When I read mom’s note on page 178, two things came to mind. First, it reminded me again of my mom’s great
love for her husband. Second, it reminded
me of the great transformation in the life of my step-dad. Don had always been a wonderful role model
for me. Even before Jesus, he was kind, responsible, patient, especially with
my mom. He was a hard worker. He provided for the family – all seven of us,
the best he could.
Like many second marriages there was a tension between the families. As one of the four older children from the
first marriage we all knew that we were not Piersons. Not ever from Don, but from his sisters and
parents. I never had a harsh word spoken
to me, but I knew there was a relational line for the four of us that we could
never cross. I once asked Don if I could
call him Dad. He told me “No, you have a
dad.” He wasn’t being mean, but
respectful. But, what he did not seem to understand is that I wanted him to be my
dad. And I must confess, to this day, when I say “Don”, in my mind and heart, I
am saying “Dad”. Funny, but even now when I refer to him in a conversation, I
still stumble over the word, Don.
Divorce in the 50’s and 60’s was not a prevalent as it is today. To my recollection, we were the only children
in our grade school whose last names did not match our mother’s. When asked why
our name was different, it made me feel like I had done something wrong. There
was something wrong, but it was not my fault and no one would tell me that. All
that to say, Don did the best he could to overcome those challenges. He never treated us differently from the
younger siblings, his biological children.
He was a good man. But when it comes to God, good is not good
enough. When a young man referred to
Jesus as “Good Teacher” Jesus replied (Mark
10:18) Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is
good--except God alone.” As good a man
as Don was, he was not good enough. None
of us are. We can’t live the Christian
life apart from the power of God, the presence of His Spirit, and our will
submitted to the will of the Father.
Mom knew Don in a way that we did not.
We knew him as children, while she knew him as her husband, intimately.
Intimacy between and husband and wife has more than the sexual connotation that
our culture ascribes to the word today.
A speaker once described it as meaning “into me see”. A deeper understanding of who a person
is. And she saw the change that took
place in Don’s life, after his new beginning.
So how does it happen and why doesn’t God just “scoop us up to heaven” when
we are saved? “God gives us time on
earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven” (p173 note) I
think mom was wanting to be in heaven when she was reading the PDL. The Bible says (Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment.” We are all
going to die, unless Jesus returns first.
God does not tell you when you will die and certainly not how you will
die. But you will die one day. Until then, God will continue to work in your
life, conforming you into the image of His Son, if you allow it that is.
“Everything … connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten
through and through. Get rid of it!” (p175
note) Mom saw that happen in Don’s life.
“The old passing away, all things becoming as new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) And she thanked the
Lord for it. She saw Jesus in Him and so
did we. It made me want to be like him
even more.
“If you study and apply God’s Word, connect regularly with other believers,
and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, I guarantee you will become
more like Jesus.” (p176 note) When mom underlined these words, I am
fairly certain she was thinking about Don.
That is who I think about. And I also
think about my mom who followed in Don’s footsteps. Just like I am doing. Do you have a Don in your life, who is living
proof that faith in Jesus can and will transform your life? If you don't you need one!
Note:
Taken from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren Copyright © 2002 by Rick
Warren. Use by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com
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