I took a trip to the library today with Siobhan. She needed a break from the house and I just felt like meandering among books for a few hours. I picked up one with various stories written by individuals who became successful in life. Towards the back of the book, there was a chapter written by John Wooden. The more I learn about him, the more I love him. Even after death, he will continue to influence lives. That's legacy.
In the chapter written by him, he began to share about how his dad impacted his life. Abraham Lincoln said, "There's nothing stronger than gentleness," and Mr. Joshua Hugh Wooden lived out this principle of strength. When John graduated from grade school, Mr. Wooden gave him a card with a verse on the front by Reverend Henry Van Dyke. His dad said to him, "Son, try to live up to what you'll find in this card."
This is the verse:
Four things a man must learn to do if he would make his life more true
To think without confusion, clearly
To love his fellow man, sincerely
To act from honest motives, purely
To trust in God and Heaven, securely
On the other side of the card there was a seven point creed....
Be true to yourself; help others, that's where you get your greatest joy; make each day your masterpiece; drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible; Make friendship a fine art/ build a shelter against a rainy day
And, pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
John Wooden must have taken his dad's words of instruction seriously.
I want to take them seriously, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment