Legacy: Part 3, The Future

We want our children to flourish, to live well and fare well--to be happy. Happiness, as Aristotle long ago pointed out, resides in activity, both physical and mental. It resides in doing things that one can take pride in doing well, and hence that one can enjoy doing. It is a great mistake to identify enjoyment with mere amusement or relaxing or being entertained. Life's greatest joys are not what one does apart from the work of one's life, but with the work of one's life.

This passage is taken from the The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett. It captures (most likely better) what I want to say about the future generation. The image that is common to us as we consider these ideas is the family tree, and of course we want the tree to grow tall and strong. I am no different. I do not, however, assume that the generational history of the Hensons will be better or stronger just because we have three children. It is up to us as parents to continue that growing process with long range vision and especially a whole hearted commitment to God's growth plan.

For them--that is Lara Leigh, Jack, and Cooper, I think often of what their adult years will be like, especially of their value system, character, and career. As parents we have a strong influence in how these items develop (or not develop). Our contribution becomes merely the fertilization toward extended growth and maturity. As I have argued in the previous parts of this series of posts that there comes a time that the kids will then make life decisions that will either advance the expanse of the family tree or inflict life threatening disease to it.

Our hopes and prayers are that we have created an opportunity for our children to do big things. We have talked about a future that allows our kids to have the resources to dream big and to risk big in order to achieve big. It is in how they (Lara, Jack, and Cooper) use their value system, character, and career choice that the future will be shaped. They will take what they have learned from us, their parents, and make their own decisions about its importance.

Of course I can in no way see the future or make any reasonable predictions about how they will end up. We will do our part then it will be up to them. It's fun but yet scary to wonder about the possibilities. We want the next generation of the Henson family to do more than just adopt our value system; more than just have a character resemblance. We want them to take these taught values and invest them in an ever changing world that they will live. We desire our kids to take the character traits that (hopefully) they have chosen from us and adapt them to meet the needs of those who need a difference maker in their lives. You see, the next generation will operate within a different context due to how much the world will have changed and cannot simply rehearse the same old song and dance of their parents generation. There needs to be fresh growth shooting from established foliage to meet the demands of the the new day.

In terms of what our kids will be when they grow up, our hope is that they will not pursue a career because of money or benefits or how it would position them in the community. Whether a truck driver, farmer, factory worker, attorney, politician, musician, writer, or whatever; the point is to advance the generation, which means our children pursing careers that inspire them and gives them an outlet to exercise the talents that God has given. This has been one of the application points for me as I have gone through the Financial Peace University course. Changing my family tree means passing down these money management principles so that our kids do not ever feel forced to take a job because it pays better or gives better benefits. Our prayer is that the lessons learned in FPU will eliminate that pressure and provide a freedom for immediate and constant obedience to God.

I think that will close my thoughts on legacy for now. I can already see as I proofread that there are a couple of other cans I can open up if I am not careful. There is still so much to understand and so much to learn. Sometimes I wonder if I have advanced at all since my childhood. Have I maintained what the previous generation has laid out for me? Will I be able to know that my life was an extension of a growing family tree and enjoy the blessings of God as He rules over history? Too many questions and not enough answers.