… for the Kids,.. Mostly

Last Christmas, my mother-in-law, Kitsy gave me really cool book/journal entitled, A Father’s Legacy. I have kept it in my stack of books on my nightstand and flipped through it a few times. Each time, I say to myself, “I would really enjoy reading this book if it had been completed by my dad, father-in-law and both of my grandfathers.” Sadly, only one of these men (my father) is still living. My dad is much like me in terms of possessing a boatload of good intentions, but lacking a bit in follow-through to see these ideas to fruition. I want to ask him to do this book, for his grandchildren and me, but I am now feeling compelled to do it for that same group (his grandchildren and me). I hesitate to ask my dad to do something I haven’t yet committed to doing myself. So, here it is — a partial commitment. I need to start small, or I will give up prematurely if it becomes too time consuming. I am committing to answer one question each month between now and the end of next March. Hopefully, I will have gained some momentum by this time next year and ramp it up to two-three questions per year. Otherwise, I will be almost 50 years old when I finish.

A Father’s Legacy

By Word Staff, J Countryman

Edition: illustrated

Published by Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 1996

ISBN 0849952751, 9780849952753

208 pages

In a 12-month format with key questions, this handsome padded hardcover journal is a personal biography waiting to be written-a loving legacy in a father’s own words. Designed for fathers of all ages.

This month (April) has 13 pages. The questions are as follows:

1. Did you enjoy reading as a boy? What were some of the most memorable books you read? (page 61)
2. What were the family finances like when you were growing up? How did that effect you? (62)
3. Was there a special person who helped you in your Christian walk? Share something about this person. (63)
4. When did you first learn about sex? Would you recommend the same for young people today? Why or why not? (64)
5. As a teenager, did you rebel or do things your parents wouldn’t have approved of? How do you feel about that now? (65)
6. List three things you wish you had during your junior high and high school years, but didn’t. (66)
7. What did your family like to do on weekends. Describe one particularly memorable one. (67)
8. During childhood, who was your best friend? Share some of your fondest memories of fun times together. (68)
9. Did you keep a scrapbook of photos, autographs, or memories of special occasions? Describe what this meant to you. (69)
10. What is your favorite memory of your mother? Why is it so special to you. (70)
11. What image of your father is the most striking in your memory? Why that image? (71)
12. List one memory about each of your brothers and sisters. (72)
13. Share with me your father’s attitude toward life and how that effected you. (73)

My parents left yesterday after staying with us for almost two weeks. I discussed this book with my dad. I intended to interview him using a voice recorder accessory for my iPod, but I kept putting it off and the opportunity was lost. Yet another example of our fruitless good intentions.

The purpose of this post:

1. A self-reminder to fulfill my commitment to this autobiographical legacy baby-step for my kids
2. A place for my family (especially my dad) and friends to read, comment and even contribute their own entries
3. Retaliation against lost opportunity and fruitless good intentions