Living for Generational Impact

      My wife and I have five children, four are grown and married and now having children of their own.  One is sixteen and still with us, but the clock is ticking.  What are the keys to making an impact on the lives of your children and grandchildren? 
       First, generational impact is a team sport.  Our family has always been actively connected to the community.  Church is the primary vehicle for us but there are other connecting points as well.  Our kids have always had grandparents, extended family and our faith family to speak into their lives.  We will forever be grateful to those who taught our kids at church or school, walked beside them in youth group and coached them in sports.  I find it interesting that a coach or youth sponsor can say basically the same thing a parent says but at times it appears like that non-parent’s voice is even more impactful. Obviously be discerning on who, but invite others to speak into the life of your children. 
       Second, Pray regularly and strategically.  My wife and I have five grandchildren and three more on the way.  I am praying for their salvation, protection, specific calling and future spouses.  Unlike food, prayers do not have expiration dates; long after my wife and I have gone to heaven our prayers for our children and grandchildren will still actively be answered. 
      Third, sow the Word of God.  The Bible is powerful and true.  Our culture is drowning in lies; case in point, we are at the end of some vicious political campaigns.  Give your kids and grandchildren a foundation of truth to stand on.  Moses reminds us to teach the Scripture to our children “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).  My 81-year-old mother still mentions Scriptures to me that she has been reading recently that have been inspiring to her and even some that are perplexing to her.  She is still a humble and perpetual student of the Bible; she and my father (who has passed a few years ago) modeled that enthusiastic desire to learn God’s word.  It’s no surprise that both my sister and I are ministers and that one of our sons is an ordained minister as well.  And all our children, whatever their occupational calling, are dedicated students of the Word.
      Fourth, authentically live your values.  My grandparents and parents were not perfect, but they truly strived to live their faith.  They worshipped God privately and publicly.  They treated all people with love and compassion, even when others did not treat them well.  They were generous with their finances.  They fought their battles primarily in prayer and expected God to lean into their lives.  They kept commitments and served others.  To use a baseball analogy, I have always felt like I was “born on third base.”  If I fail in life, it’s on me, not the beautiful heritage that was handed to me.  I hope my children and grandchildren can say the same.  Even some of the decisions that were hard on our kids, like adding foster children to the mix, modeled compassion for others and I think in the long run helped stretch them into the people that God created them to be.
       Our culture tells us to live for the moment; instead, live for the generations.  Think long term.  Plant trees you will never sit under.  Plant seeds of honor, integrity, compassion and generosity that will continue to grow long after you are gone.  Success is not money, power or popularity but generational impact.
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church