One
Saturday morning, all of the kids were sitting on Dad’s bed. He was still
in his pajamas, and we were just talking. At that point in our lives, all
of us had made some kind of profession of Christian faith.
One
of us asked if Dad had done anything special to help bring this to pass.
He said that he and Mom had prayed for each of us every day, and had done
everything they could to instruct us in the faith, but that it was ultimately
not something they had done, but rather God’s work in us.
Then
he stretched out his hands, indicating the bedroom and the rest of the
house, and said something I will always remember: “The Lord has blessed
us with many good things, but one thing your mother and I have always felt:
we would give all this up in a second in exchange for each one of you knowing
the Lord.”
I remember
thinking to myself at the time: “Well, that’s got to be a major part of
the equation. Anyone who is that dedicated to getting something to happen
will have a significant impact.”
As
I think back over the years, I can see that this was not an exaggeration
on Dad’s part. He and Mom consistently made choices that showed that God
was first in their lives, and showed the importance they placed on each
of us kids knowing the Lord personally.
Mom
and Dad worked hard to provide for the family, but they worked hardest
at providing the most important thing for their kids – an environment in
which we could come to know, love and serve God.
(c)
2011 Ted Kennedy III
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