Legacy: Building A Family

LEGACY: BUILDING A BETTER FAMILY

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN EVER BUILD IS YOUR FAMILY? Your home?

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY FATHERLESS?

Science teaches us it takes a Mother and a Father to give birth to a baby. We may make many claims but there still is a process of fertilization that is required for life.

Lamentations 5:3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

Orphans we are, not a father in sight, and our mothers no better than widows.

Exodus 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

The Biblical family establishes the parents are the primary defenders of life. The fatherless were considered an oppressed class in Israelite society. Life is much more difficult without a good mother and a good father. The widow and the children were considered helpless and under privileged and were often oppressed.

Exodus 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

God’s word warns us not to mistreat widows or orphans. When a society mistreats families all they have to do is to cry out to God. God takes this seriously. And God will defend in his anger. See God loves the widows and the fatherless.

GOD PROMISED TO BE GOD THE FATHER TO THE WIDOW, FATHERLESS OR ORPHAN. The “fatherless” depended on God’s mercy and God’s people. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: THE FATHERLESS MUST LEARN TO DEPEND ON GOD FOR THEIR DAILY PROVISIONS AND SAFETY.

*LEGACY: SOMETHING TRANSMITTED OR RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER PERSON OR PREDECESSOR.

WHAT KIND OF LEGACY ARE YOU LEAVING? THE LEGACY OF MY FATHER. I STOPPED AT THE OLD HOMEPLACE IN JELLICO TENNESSEE.

There was no house there, a field of green grass. I thought I was in the right place, but in 40 years maybe I was wrong? The old country store was gone. Nothing looked the same. I walked over to the closest house and knocked on the door. A little lady came and opened the door. She seemed to be a little afraid of me. We talked a few minutes and I told the lady 40 years ago I lived in a big white house in the field next door. She still was distant. I told her my name. I am Wade M. Hughes and we lived here when I was in high school.

She told me I was not Wade M. Hughes, she knew Wade M. Hughes and she backed away even more. I got out my driver’s licenses and showed her who I was. She said: MARTIN? MARTIN IS THAT YOU? She told me she loved my Mom and Dad. She said your family left A LEGACY on this community. My Dad had pastored a church there. His LEGACY was still intact after 40 years.

She invited me to sit on the porch and talk. Her husband lost both legs in Viet Nam. He had since passed away. She told me who she was: CATHY. I remembered Cathy as a teenager. As we sat there she told me my Dad had married her and her husband. She told me how my Dad had officiated funerals for her family. My Dad had visited her family in the hospital.

She then told me a big storm had come through the county and destroyed the old home place and the country store.

CATHY WENT FROM COLD AND DISTANT to warm all because the LEGACY MY DAD HAD LEFT 40 YEARS AGO. Cathy invited me to stay for dinner and spend the night with her and the family. I had many miles to travel so I had to leave.

But what a change in the visit when she learned who my dad was… LEGACY!

WHAT KIND OF LEGACY ARE YOU LEAVING BEHIND? They are mean? They are quick tempered? They owe me money? They left a trail of pain, tears and hurt? IT IS UP TO YOU. GIVE YOUR FAMILY THE GIFT OF A GOOD LEGACY!

TO BUILD A HEALTHY, SOUND FAMILY WE MUST MAKE OUR PRIORITIES WHAT GOD THINKS IS IMPORTANT? IS YOUR FAMILY’S VALUE SYSTEM BASED ON BIBLICAL VALUES?

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.