perfect attendance award

About two years ago my mother gave me some books that had been my
grandfathers. I love books and love to read. I love to hold those bunches of
paper and ink in my hands and experience the sensation that comes from
holding them.

With the gift of my grandfather's books I have experienced a new sensation,
a somehow unexplainable connection to my grandfather; it is a piece of my
family heritage. The books, Stories for and about Boy Scouts were (according
to the note in the front) were given to my grandfather "in 1917 for perfect
attendance." I don't know where the "perfect attendance" was, but perhaps
his church bible class, as there is an old (turned brown) bible story paper
which was left in the book.

My grandfather was probably 11 years old when he received and read these
books (just 7 years shy of being 100 years ago). I have been reading the
books and savoring the experience of somehow connecting with my grandfather.

I loved my grandfather and have many fond memories of him as a youngster. I
just wish he could have left me more. No, not more of anything physical, but
more of what he might have experienced as that young boy in bible class,
some spiritual values. You see, though my grandfather was a good man, he was
not a practicing Christian. He was hurt by something that happened in his
church as a young man and just quit and refused to have anything else to do
with religion after that. I am thankful that I had Spirit filled parents
that raised me to know that God must be of first importance in our lives, no
matter what people do to us.

My grandfather passed on work ethic, the need to treat others fairly, to
love and cherish family, but he never mentioned God and I never remember him
attending any worship service. I wish he could have done so and passed that
along to me as a heritage.

Since you are reading this, you must have some desire to have a spiritual
relationship to God. But stop and ask yourself, what is the heritage you are
leaving to your family, to your children and grandchildren or others you
might influence? You might have set aside a substantial sum or money, lands
or investments, but the truth is, that is not that for which you will be
remembered.

Notice what God's word has to say about it: Psalm 37:18, "The days of the
upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever."
(BBE)

Proverbs 13:22, "The heritage of the good man is handed down to his
children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the
upright man." (BBE)

If you have not done so already, how about getting your life on the right
track and start working on a heritage that will last forever!

Russ Lawson