The Most Important Thing

My dad never "made it big" by the world's standards. He never even owned his own home. His kids wore lots of hand-me-downs, and helping me with college tuition was not a possibility for him. Did he work hard? Absolutely. Was he well-educated? He worked his own way through college and then seminary. But he didn't work in order to accumulate wealth. He worked to tell others about Jesus.

In a world that is all about being able to buy that bigger house, or that better car, my dad was most interested in giving his children one thing: a love for Jesus. Even as the chant of the whole world around him was "money, wealth, success" he had one goal for us--to introduce us to our Savior.

So I say to my father, who could never give me the gift of a car, or a college tuition, or a nice, big house--"Thank you." Thank you for giving me something so much more priceless and costly. You gave me Jesus. You passed down to me a faith that cannot be shaken, for it is not rooted in the things of the world--the seen, temporary things. It is rooted in the things that are unseen and eternal. It is a gift that will truly last forever.

And while it's true that I cannot wait to see you again, as I know I will, thank you for pointing me always to the One who is greater than you. Thank you for making Jesus the most important thing in our home, so that even as a little girl I learned to love Him. I know that when I enter heaven, if I happen to see you first, you will have one thing to say to me-- "Let me introduce you to your Savior."