Spiritual – relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

Legacy – a gift by will especially of money or other personal property: bequest. Also, the story of someone’s life, the things they did, places they went, goals they accomplished, their failures, and more. Something they leave behind, to be remembered by.

Jesus Christ is the most profound example to us today of how we should live.

I Peter 2:21-24

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus left us the legacy of forgiveness, salvation, kindness, humbleness, perfect love, and the opportunity to have life everlasting.

My Story:

As many of you know, my father James Witherspoon transitioned early morning June 3,2020. The legacy that he left the seven children left, fourteen grandchildren, 22 great grands, and 2 great-great grands is love first, he taught us to be honest, to work hard, to share. He taught us to be fair, to help our fellow man, and to do the best we could at whatever we chose to do. He taught his sons to men, to be providers and protectors of their families. He taught us daughters to behave like respectable women and to carry ourselves with class and dignity. We were all collectively taught to clean our home and to also take care of the yard. Yes, the boys had to clean inside the house and the girls had to also cut grass and rake leaves. He wanted to be sure that we could all do it all. Growing up just like most sibling we had our little falling outs with each other, but Dad would always say, you do not have to and will not always agree but learn to disagree agreeably. That taught us to respect the opinions of others even if you do not agree with their opinion. My parents worked together to raise us and if we asked mom something, she was quick to say check and see if its okay with your dad, and he would do the same thing. If they ever disagreed, we never knew. As a child we didn’t hear them argue or say degrading things to each other or even about other people. If we heard them speak of a neighbor that was going through something, it ended with how they would be able to help them out. Of course, as we all grew into adults and started our own families the relationship with dad had a respectable level of friendship. I could talk to my dad about anything, good, bad, ugly, and indifferent, and not once did he ever judge me. He would speak so gently and tell me when I was wrong and that I needed to correct my wrong and would never speak on it again. So my father bequeathed us his spiritual legacy or the life he tried hard to live, no he wasn’t perfect, but he was constantly striving to live the life God intended for him to live, and he taught us to do the same. Even in last days he was still laying hands on and praying for his children, and making sure that we were all okay, even with his transitioning he was still instructing us on things to do. I will forever be grateful and thankful to my father, my daddy, my friend for the life he lived before me.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father we come to you right now, to give you honor and praise for the good father that you blessed us with, we thank you for your son Jesus and the sacrifice of his life so that we can live an eternal life. Lord we thank you how you continue to bless and keep us every day. We pray right now for parents to stand strong and to guide their children in the right way, to pray with and for their children, and to teach them to love and respect everyone they encounter. Help us as parents to show them through our living to do the things that are pleasing to you, to be kind, honest, fair, loving, and helpful. Lord if you do these things, we will continue to give you honor and praise, we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen