Monthly Article by Dr. Bryan J. Hult www.renewingtruth.blogspot.com Feel free to use my content, but please give credit to my work.

Copyright 2012 Bryan J. Hult

I Know Now March 2012

A spiritual legacy will not just happen. Your children and friends will not pick up on it, unless you are proactively pursuing the Lord.
I didnt know before, but now I know. I knew my dad was a great man in many ways. He wasnt perfect, but he did his best to raise his family well and care for others. And yet it took his death for me to learn more about him. As I travelled back to support my mom and family and lead the memorial service, I reflected on many principles that I learned from my dad. Let me highlight three. First, life is composed of difficult decisions, andultimately what matters is other people. I knew my dad reluctantly left the Navy in 1945 to support his mother and siblings, but I didnt know how difficult it was. My Uncle Bob related several things that helped put into perspective that my dad made the right decision. His mother, fifteen year old sister and twin seven year old brothers needed someone who would provide for them. The Navy sent him home immediately after the War. One of my dads brothers also mentioned that during high school, my dad was paid twelve dollars a week and he gave ten dollars to his mom. He kept two dollars to pay for trolley expenses to work and extras. No wonder he (and my mom) was so frugal! Throughout his life, my dad was very generous with charitable organizations trying to bless others with what hed been given. Secondly, you may not know your good influence on people. My dad was normally a quiet man. He didnt seek the center of attention. He was born in 1925 and lived during the difficult economic Depression. One of his principles was, Use it up; wear it out, make it do, or do without. For the last two years he spent some, but less and less time with friends and even family members, because of the dementia. I dont believe my dad thought he had a great influence on the world around him. Yet 195 people attended the memorial service! There were six people who came because they used to work for him at 3M. Is that significant? He retired 29 years ago! They respected him that much and said the nicest things as I visited with them. I wish I had heard those things before (I wish he had heard those things before!) I commented to one couple when I heard they had worked for my dad, Oh you worked with my dad? He said, No, I worked for your dad and he was such a great boss! There were many others who made respectful comments. I had a younger cousin, whose mother (my dads sister) told her children, Look at and learn from your Uncle Dick, hes a great man who understands how to look after people. His brother, Bob, who was seven when my dad returned from the Navy, said, Dick was the patriarch of the family. Hes the one who held the family together before and after the war when there was conflict. Im sure my dad just didnt want to talk badly about his parents. Several of my friends who came from our old neighborhood, people my age, said how great they thought my dad was. I didnt know before, but now I know. He was humble to not make life about himself. From my perspective, he had the intelligence, drive, personality and temperament to make admiral in the Navy. Maybe, I would have been in the Navy instead of the Army! It was a great honor to follow protocol for our nations flag presentation to my mother during the memorial service. Thirdly, leaving a spiritual legacy is ultimately what matters. I now have the Bible my dads grandparents gave to him in 1943 when he entered the Navy, which my dad kept all his life. Hebrews 12:9-10 records, Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect ... For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them My dad did his best to raise his three children and Im grateful for his influence in my life. A spiritual legacy will not just happen. Your children and friends will not pick up on it, unless you are

proactively pursuing the Lord. How you spend your time will declare to people what you believe is important. We must disciple our children AND others in the Lord, or our nation will forget who God is. I wish I had known more about my dad, but it would have taken someone else to tell me he wouldnt have made an issue of himself. Thank you for your prayers and great support for me and my family in his home going. Go out of your way and take the time to honor others. Your words may leave a legacy for the next generation. May we all continue to build each other up in the Lord, so that He is exalted in His work in our lives!