In the years leading up to Linda’s becoming a resident in the Memory Care Unit at Legacy Village in Cleveland, Tennessee, we spent a significant amount of time developing a more intimate relationship with Christ, defining the core values of our lives and prayerfully interceding for our children, grandchildren, and descendants who were yet to be born.
We persistently prayed that our lives might manifest the marks of the Kingdom: righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Further, that our descendants might be known for those spiritual values long after we are gone. Such long-term thinking did not just suddenly happen. Rather, it grew out of a wonderful biblical insight that I received in June 1963. I will share my thoughts under three headings:
Keep the Finished Picture in Mind
Linda and I were to be married in Richmond, Kentucky, in two short months; with four states separating me from seeing her beautiful face and smelling her sweet perfume, I needed reassurance that I was following the will of God, and not just my own desire. Therefore, leaving my short-term mission group for a few hours, I climbed up a mountain outside Salt Lake City, Utah, earnestly prayed and searched the Scriptures. I will forever remember the clear directions that I received from Psalm 128:
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel” (vss.1-6 KJV).
As promised on that summer day in 1963, over the past thirty-six years, we have been blessed to see our children’s children. Now, I like to think of Linda looking down from Heaven and cheering me on as I welcome wonderful bonus blessings — our grandchildren’s children — seven and counting. Accompanying this blog is a picture of our latest addition, Billy Briggs Rodgers being held by his grandmother, our first-born child Melinda.
Refuse to Let Others Control the Narrative
A diligent search of the Scriptures, including the record of Hebrews ll, reveals that as a result of the Fall, there are no perfect parents, perfect children, or perfect families on earth; however, that will not stop Satan from hurling his accusations each time our imperfections, which are numerous, rise to the surface. Unfortunately, this is exacerbated when well-meaning, albeit misguided, individuals attempt to interpret the events of our lives. One only has to review the unfolding and concluding drama of the book of Job to recognize two truths: Miserable comforters are not a new distraction! We can depend upon God to bring blessings out of chaos during seasons of distress!
Walk by Faith During the Tough Times
Each of my children and grandchildren name Jesus as Lord; however, I am not implying that they are perfect! Let me hasten to add, neither am I! During periods of wandering and going astray, claiming generational blessings for my family requires that I walk by faith and not by sight. As I write these words, I am very aware that the great happiness which I am presently feeling will only be possible during future tough times if I continue to embrace life as a process: fear God, live out His precepts, and love that which He loves.
Even though, during the past sixty-three years, the truth and beauty of this reality has been challenged many times, nothing compares to the pain that I experienced when dementia slowly took away Linda’s personality and ultimately her life! However, that pain becomes feeble and unimpressive when considered in light of this great promise:
Beloved brothers and sisters, we want you to be quite certain about the truth concerning those who have passed away, so that you won’t be overwhelmed with grief like many others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who died while believing in him. This is the word of the Lord: we who are alive in him and remain until the Lord appears will by no means have an advantage over those who have already died, for both will rise together (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 TPT emphasis added).
