My Father’s Legacy

Lessons my father taught me have left a lasting impression on my life.  I may not have gotten them right the first, second or sometimes even the third time around but a do over in my father’s book is OK.  He used to teach my three brothers and I that if you don’t get it right the first time you get back up, dust yourself off and try again.  You keep getting back up until you get it right. 

Growing up on the farm I remember the time my dad put me on my first pony.  I wasn’t very old at the time.  The pony jumped up and down a little bit and I fell off.  I didn’t get hurt, my father was there to make sure of that, but just the same I cried.  I cried because I did not want to get back on that pony.  My dad just smiled, picked me back up, dusted me off and put me back in the saddle again.  I didn’t fair any better the next few times I tried but I went away with a valuable lesson that day that stayed with me for the rest of my life.  When I was a little older I was still to small to crawl up on the horses myself so I would sneak carrots out of my mother’s garden, climb a tree in the pasture and coax some of them over.   When one got close enough I would hop on its back and there we would go off to the rodeo.  I’ve been thrown off, knocked off and rubbed off a horse more times than I can count.  I was once thrown off onto our barbed wire fence and when I came to the house cut up and bleeding I thought I was going to be in loads hot water with mom.  She took it better than I thought she would as she doctored me up.  My poor mother put up with a lot of my cowboy antics and had the patients of Job with me.  I did eventually learn to ride though I still carry some of the scars I received while gaining the skills.  I was not going to quit until I did. 

The main theme in my blog has been about making choices and hopefully making the right ones.  Many of us pick up some emotional scars along the way but unlike the physical ones these scars are not as easily seen and sometimes take longer to heal.  We do not always get it right the first time around and occasionally stumble or fall flat on our faces.  This is not the end and we are not down and out unless we choose to stay there.  Let’s say you have a dream or a vision of something that you would very much like to accomplish in your life.

 

You should ask yourself these questions:

·         Is it a meaningful venture?

·         Is it worth the sacrifice?

·         Will it help make me a better person?

·         Does it help others meet their needs?

·         Does the outcome have merit?

This involves stepping outside of yourself and giving an honest assessment of what you are about to do.  Now it’s decision time.  Something may be telling you – what if I fail?  Just remember that you never fail until you stop trying and if it is a worthwhile dream then it is worth going after.  If you answered yes to the questions above then I think you have a worthwhile dream to pursue.

My heavenly father like my earthly father has taught me the difference between right and wrong but more important than knowing was doing what is right.  He taught me about integrity.  He taught me that integrity is something to be valued.  Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking.  No one can take your integrity from you but you can give it away.  If you have ever lost your integrity can you get it back?  I not only believe you can but I know you can.  Have you ever heard of the Butterfly Affect?  It states that, “There are generations yet unborn whose very lives will be shifted and shaped by the moves you make and the actions you take today and tomorrow and the next day”.  I think the key word here is today.  Today is something we can take part in making a difference.  Today we can volunteer for a worthy cause.  Today we can we can talk with a senior that may feel alone and forgotten.  Today we can make contact with that friend or family member that we keep putting off. Today you can begin mending fences of broken relationships that were once thought to be lost.  I believe that the actions we choose to take today will leave a lasting legacy for your family and for future generations.  Today is never too late to recognize a wrong and make it right.  What will your legacy be?

Have a blessed day!

Terry Earp