Leaving A Legacy~

"The greatest legacy one can pass on to 

one's children and grandchildren is not money

or other material things accumulated in 

one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith."

~Billy Graham~

One year ago today my precious dad was called to his Eternal home

where he is beholding the glory of God,
and praising his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The absence of a loved one leaves within our hearts

an emptiness and longing of those days gone by

where love, laughter and memories were made.

Never again will I hear the voice of my dad
(only through the recorded cassette tapes I have of him)
 feel the touch of his strong hands,

 laugh till I cry, find comfort from his big hugs,

receive another phone call from him as he lovingly says,

 " Hey kiddo, what's happinin" 
and then to hear his ending words as we would close our visit over the phone with,

"love you kiddo!"
Ride with him to the Landfill
 praying my way there hoping to avoid some sort of episode with the dump trailer;
or sit with him by the pool side and watch the doves come and go
 for their little drink and dip in the shallow end of the pool.
Those were the beautiful days spent down south 
where dad and mom would spend their Winter months in the warmth of the sunshine.
 Those days of working along side of dad on his job sites
or on his 40 acres of property are never going to happen again.
Family gatherings where dad would share endless stories
will now be remembered through memories only,
so long as I can keep my memory.  ;)
 These are just a few of the precious memories I have tucked away in my heart,
but those who knew my dad either through relation
or friendship hold their very own special memories
because dad was the type of man you wanted to make memories with.

Every day of my dad's life he created a legacy

of the best and most beautiful parts of himself.

My dad was a man of noble character ~

He was an honorable man full of strength in many ways.

He was a man of integrity who was genuine 

in his care over those he loved.

He looked for opportunities to do good in life,

to be of help to others,

and he gave without regard for anything in return.

Dad never cut corners with the relationships 

he made with people. 

He was honest, decent, loving, sincere and trustworthy. 

Dad was an honorable man in his love for my mother in their marriage,
 becoming a husband early in his life through a bond of love
that was permanent for nearly 58 years.
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
Though dad had disabilities from polio he was a hard working man
looking to the needs of his family. 
My dad would let nothing stop him from doing a job that needed accomplished.
He was the type of man that believed you do what ya gotta do to get er done!

As children we were taught to be respectable individuals

with good work ethics ourselves. 
Dad loved each one of his family members with genuine love and respect,
teaching and training us along the pathway of life.
Five children 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren all created uniquely,
and he loved us for who we are.

"One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare Your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4)

~ One of dads hobbies was restoring automobiles~this is his 56 Ford "Cherry Delight" one of his first restoration projects. She now belongs to me ~

Dad never sat idle, when not working you would often  find him in one of
 his garages with his favorite recorded cassette tapes playing
 as he enjoyed those hobbies that brought him joy and fulfillment.

Dad was a steady man with a vision for his own life 
as well as those of his family.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from 

everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,

and his righteousness unto children's children." (Psalm 103:17)

Dad has left an impact on my life through his values and virtues

that will remain with me all the days of my life.

In his later years when he gave his life over to Christ,

he became a changed man, still a man of noble character,

but a man now changed by the grace of God.
He desired to be more like Christ,
and so therefore, he allowed the working of the Spirit
to purify him so as to come forth as gold.  
I can remember after dad gave his life to Christ,
he had a hunger and desire to read and know the Scriptures,
he would study and ask questions looking for answers to things he didn't quite understand.
Dad was a new man in Christ, and it was glorious! 
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
 not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15) 

Praise the Lord!
~*~

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who greatly delights in his commandments!

His offspring will be mighty in the land:

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever."

(Psalm 112:1-3)
~*~
One week to the day before dad went home to glory
I had the privilege of sharing a devotional with him from my personal study
that was on "Honoring Parents" found in (Ephesians 6:2)
"Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise"
"Whatever your age, whether you are married or single,
whether your parents are even still living or not,
God expects you to honor them."
~Nancy Leigh DeMoss~
That is just a small glimpse of the devotion I was able to read to dad.
As I read that beautifully written devotion about honoring our parents
I had no idea that those would be the last spiritual words I would utter from my lips
to my precious dad.
I believe it was no coincidence that my devotion for that day
was on this very subject and that my dad would hear those precious words
from the Word of God, taking them with him into surgery and then into Eternity.
Dad was never conscious again after his surgery.
One way to honor our parents is by speaking to them with honey on our lips.

~~~**~~~

Dad left behind a legacy that will long be remembered
by those who knew, loved and respected him.
We miss his presence and all that he graced our lives with,
but those deep loving memories will live on in our hearts. 

Everyone will leave a legacy, for good, bad or indifferent.

We all leave footprints behind us.

How will we be remembered by those who knew us?
As I get older it seems as if death surrounds me
more and more through the loss of my loved ones,
friends, acquaintances and even famous people.
I can't help but ponder on my own life and how I have lived it.
What will I be remembered by?
Should I be the subject of conversation,
what are people going to say about Debbie Harris?
 "Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.
A legacy is etched into the minds of others
and the stories they share about you."
~Shannon L. Alder~
 Will I be remembered as a women of noble character,
a women who knew, loved and lived for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Have I been the vessel God desires for me to be
because I have choosen the pathway of obedience as He has
instructed through His Holy Word?
 Am I concerned about looking to the spiritual needs 
of others whom God places in my life?
(Romans 10:13-17)
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things."  (verse15)
 Is Christ seen in and through me
as I run the race He has set before me? 
Will I finish well?
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
~*~
So many questions we can ask ourselves,
as we look into our own lives.
What footprints will I leave behind?
What footprints are you leaving behind?

Precious Heavenly Father,
create in us a love so strong for You
that we cannot help but live a gracious and honorable
life with You, as the Center.
Therefore, leaving behind footprints of a lovely legacy.
Amen.

Be Lovely!
~ Debbie ~