"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." Proverbs 23:26
The
first Naval officer killed in the Iraq war in 2003 was twenty-seven year old
Lt. Thomas Adams. He was one of seven who died when his Sea King helicopter
collided with another aircraft over the Persian Gulf. Lt. Adams was serving as
a liaison officer with the British Royal Navy at the time. In serving his
county Thomas Adams was following a long family tradition. He was a descendant
of President John Adams, and many other members of his family had served the
nation from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to modern times.
Adams’
legacy is a wonderful example of the legacy we can leave for the future by the
way we live our lives in the present. President John Adams believed in the
United States and devoted his life to helping form and build the new nation.
His children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps because of the example
that he set for them. By observing his ways the course of their lives was
set—in a pattern that has lasted for generations.
Part
of God’s plan for His people is that each generation sets an example for the
next to follow. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “Be ye followers
of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Each day we
should be aware that there are others watching us, especially in our family and
in our church family. They see how we respond to success and victory, and how
we respond to difficulty and defeat. They watch our actions to see if they
match with our words. They observe our behavior at home to see if it matches
our conduct in public. While none of us are perfect, we should strive to
continually set a godly example for those who come after us to follow.
Live in such a way
that as your children and grandchildren follow your example, their lives will
bring honor and glory to God.
By Paul Chappell
