Coffee? Tea? Serenity?

As I visited with Jesus over coffee this morning, I felt that I had nothing in my heart to write about. So, as I always do, I spoke to Him just as if He were sitting across from my table. I said, “OK, Jesus. You inspired me to return to my blog. Today, it feels like my creative bank is empty. Inspire me!”

So, here goes…

Inheritance. When one hears that word, they immediately think of properties such as land, buildings, or bank accounts that will one day come to them, or have come to them, after the death of a parent or other loved one. What a bittersweet day for those of us who know that feeling. To be granted and honored the ownership of something that those before you have worked so very hard for, but to no longer have that loved one to see, hug, speak to, call on the phone, or just know that they are there.

Inheritance. I looked it up in the dictionary. It has a very dry definition; no interesting adjectives. It is not a word that could be easily explained to a youngster who is new to learning the world around him. It is not a word that a youngster would even be interested in.

Due to the deaths of my grandparents, the mortality of my own parents comes to mind. With that, my own mortality comes to mind as well. I asked myself, what will I leave behind? Will there be a big bank account? Will there be numerous acres of productive land? Will there be an enormous building? The answer to those questions is: probably not. Am I disappointed in coming to this conclusion? No, not at all. I am actually at peace because that conclusion brought me to a deeper level of thinking. It brought me to think of the things that I will leave my child that no one else can give to him, to steal from him, or even buy from him. Those things are faith, wisdom, knowledge, and character which we are helping him to build within himself. At the age of fourteen, there is no way that he would come to understand this importance, but at the age of 40 I have. I understand them very well because those are the valuables that my parents will leave to me when they pass from this life on to the next.

The life that my parents have lived has not been easy. There have been, and still are, many bumps in the road for them. At one point, I am sure that divorce would have been the easier alternative. Because of who they are, and what their parents helped to build within their character, they stuck it out. Then there was a time that a financial decision was made based on a dream. That dream, if it came true, would have allowed myself and my brother to inherit a productive business. But, that dream did not come true. Instead, that dream left my parents with many financial burdens; burdens that concern them, and us, still today. Concerned family members have mentioned their not understanding why the decision was made: Why take the risk? Why at that age? Why? Why? Why? Because I walked side-by-side with them in that dream and because of my sincere desire to always see God’s purpose in all things, I prayed and asked God, “What was it all for?” Without my faith, and without God to lean on for wisdom and understanding, I might be asking the same questions as those concerned family members but today I do not. In His mercy and kindness, He slowly revealed to me some things that are very important. Things like the way that they have overcome many obstacles of life, working through the difficulties of marriage, never giving up even when the dream did not come true, the respect and love they continue to give to me, the valuable time they spend with my own child, and the faith, wisdom, knowledge, and character that they have shown and shared with me.

Ahhh….faith, wisdom, knowledge, and character …………..

Can’t get those in college.

Won’t read those in a will.

Can’t buy those at Wal-Mart.

Can’t order them on the internet.

No one can steal them from you.

No one can buy them from you.

No need to purchase liability insurance for protection against lawsuit because of them.

No need to worry about how to separate them fairly when they die.

Ahhh…..faith, wisdom, knowledge, and character given to me from my parents - the PERFECT inheritance - the kind that comes with huge benefits. The benefits being that I do not have to wait for their death to receive. I can enjoy them today. I can think on them when making my own decisions. I can use them in my career and vocation. I can share them with my own child.

With that in mind, I must now say:

Thank you Mom and Dad for all the trials that you battled for our sake.

Thank you Mom and Dad for all the financial burdens that you carry still today for our sake.

Thank you Mom and Dad for giving your all in all that you did, and still do today.

Because of you doing so, I love, honor and respect you today.

Because of you doing so, I love, honor and respect who I am.

No one will ever give me a greater gift!

Matthew 6:21- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.