I never got to watch Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and the Cincinnati Reds lead the Big Red Machine as they dominated the MLB in the 1970s.
I never got to watch David Thompson and Julius Erving as they brought high-flying dunks to basketball.
I don’t have any memories of watching or following any of those legendary sports figures. But I do know all about them. My dad has told me about them many times.
My dad can go on and on about those Reds teams. They were tough and competitive. They loved to play the game. They played to win. I like how excited he gets just telling me about them. Johnny Bench is the best catcher ever! “Charlie Hustle” is such a fitting nickname for the ultimate competitor, Pete Rose. I learned all that from my dad.
He doesn’t want to argue about it, but he swears to me that David Thompson and Dr. J were impressive dunkers before Jordan and LeBron. My dad told told me about them.
The more and more I read the Bible, the more I am noticing how often the Bible speaks to the fathers telling the next generations. It is all over the Bible. Take for example Psalm 44:1,
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days
It motivates me to not just teach my kids about old-time sports heroes. I also want them to know God. I want to tell them all that I can about God. I want them to know all that He has done. I want them to know all that He has done for me.
Life is about God. In all that I am teaching them, may I make certain that they know that truth.
We have so much fun looking at Youtube videos of Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. May we also grow up loving Jesus because of all that we have heard and learned about Him.
I am thankful for all that my father has taught me. May our children and grandchildren be able to say the same!