“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you… And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.” ~ I Samuel 7:12 & 16
REFERENCE:
The actions of a father become a legacy that affects the lives of his children for generations to come. A father is a representative head; hence, he must understand that he represents the destinies of generations he is presently unaware of—as were Adam and your father. Our text tells how David’s obedience to God would be a father’s legacy for his seeds forever.
Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare was a hero of World War II. He was a US fighter pilot on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day, his entire squadron went on a mission. After getting airborne, he realized he would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and return to his ship due to someone’s negligence. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier.
As he was returning, he saw a squadron of Japanese aircraft speeding toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a raid, and the ships were defenseless. He couldn’t reach his squad and bring them back in time to save the fleet, nor could he warn the fleet of the danger. There was only one thing to do: He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.
He gave a surprise attack on the enemy with the Wing-mounted 50 caliber guns on his plan. He wove in and out of the now scattered formation of the Japanese. He fired at as many planes as possible until he spent all his ammunition. He continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail to damage as many enemy planes as possible and render them unfit to fly. Finally, the frustrated Japanese squad took off in another direction.
Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he related what happened. The film from the gun camera mounted on his plane showed the extent of Butch’s daring attempt to protect his fleet. He destroyed five enemy aircraft. For that, Butch became the Navy’s first Ace of W.W.II and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later, Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His hometown would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. A statue and his Medal of Honor are displayed between Terminals 1 and 2. Why did I tell this story? Because Butch O’Hare was Easy Eddie’s son. Remember him? The man in yesterday’s story who change his life.
He bequeathed a great legacy to his son; see what the son became.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Jeremiah 33:17-22, Deuteronomy 4:37, and Deuteronomy 5:29
PRAYER:
“Lord, help me to leave a legacy of courage, character, and godliness to my children. May I be ever mindful of my children and their children with every action I take. Help me to live a life that my generations will always remember me with fond memories, thanking God for the life I lived and the legacy I bequeathed to them, in Jesus’ name.”
