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{Heart4Teens.com} *A Father's Last Gift*

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Good Afternoon Heart4Teens subscribers!

My wife, children, and I found ourselves riveted in front of our TV this past Friday night watching Friday's burial service for former President Ronald Reagan. I was very touched by the whole service, but was moved to tears by what President Reagan's son Michael said that night. I too am striving to leave a legacy, or gift, to my children in the very same way that Michael describes below.

Douglas W. Phillips shares his thoughts on what Ronald Reagan's son said last Friday night. Douglas writes exactly what I was feeling as I wiped away the tears after listening to a son share about the legacy his father left him....

As Father's Day approaches I thought it was most appropriate to share with all of you for today's HeartTouchers story.

From my family to yours,
Michael


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A Father's Last Gift

By Douglas W. Phillips


During his eight years in the office of president, Ronald Wilson Reagan left an indelible mark on this nation and the world. However, the greatest message of Ronald Reagan's life came not through his letters or public speeches, but through the testimony of a devoted son he helped to lead to Jesus Christ. As the California sun waned magnificently in the backdrop of the Reagan Library before the television cameras of America and the few select guests present for the closing funeral homage to our fortieth president, a lone figure rose to the podium to speak. It was the president's son, Michael. His intensely personal words were stunning for their simplicity, their eloquence, and their boldness. Here is what he said:


"Good evening. I'm Mike Reagan. You knew my father as governor, as president. But I knew him as dad. I want to tell you a little bit about my dad. A little bit about Cameron and Ashley's grandfather because not a whole lot is ever spoken about that side of Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan adopted me into his family 1945. I was a chosen one. I was the lucky one. And all of his years, he never mentioned that I was adopted either behind my back or in front of me. I was his son, Michael Edward Reagan.

When his families grew to be two families, he didn't walk away from the one to go to the other. But he became a father to both. To Patti and then Ronnie, but always to Maureen, my sister, and myself.

We looked forward to those Saturday mornings when he would pick us up, sitting on the curve on Beverly Glen as his car would turn the corner from Sunset Boulevard and we would get in and ride to his ranch and play games and he would always make sure it ended up a tie.

We would swim and we would ride horses or we'd just watch him cut firewood. We would be in awe of our father. As years went by and I became older and found a woman I would marry, Colleen, he sent me a letter about marriage and how important it was to be faithful to the woman you love with a P.S.: You'll never get in trouble if you say I love you at least once a day, and I'm sure he told Nancy every day ``I love you'' as I tell Colleen.

He also sent letters to his grandchildren. He wasn't able to be the grandfather that many of you are able to be because of the job that he had. And so he would write letters. He sent one letter to Cameron, said: ``Cameron, some guy got $10,000 for my signature. Maybe this letter will help you pay for your college education. He signed it, Grandpa. P.S. Your grandpa is the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He just signed his sign.''

Those are the kinds of things my father did.

At the early onset of Alzheimer's disease, my father and I would tell each other we loved each other and we would give each other a hug. As the years went by and he could no longer verbalize my name, he recognized me as the man who hugged him. So when I would walk into the house, he would be there in his chair opening up his arms for that hug, hello, and the hug goodbye. It was a blessing truly brought on by God.

We had wonderful blessings of that nature. Wonderful, wonderful blessings that my father gave to me each and every day of my life.

I was so proud to have the Reagan name and to be Ronald Reagan's son. What a great honor. He gave me a lot of gifts as a child. Gave me a horse. Gave me a car. Gave me a lot of things. But there's a gift he gave me that I think is wonderful for every father to give every son.

Last Saturday, when my father opened his eyes for the last time, and visualized Nancy and gave her such a wonderful, wonderful gift.

When he closed his eyes, that's when I realized the gift that he gave to me, the gift that he was going to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He had, back in 1988 on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Point Mugu, told me about his love of God, his love of Christ as his Savior. I didn't know then what it all meant. But I certainly, certainly know now.

I can't think of a better gift for a father to give a son. And I hope to honor my father by giving my son Cameron and my daughter Ashley that very same gift he gave to me.

Knowing where he is this very moment, this very day, that he is in Heaven, and I can only promise my father this. Dad, when I go, I will go to Heaven, too. And you and I and my sister, Maureen, that went before us, we will dance with the heavenly host of angels before the presence of God. We will do it melanoma and Alzheimer's free. Thank you for letting me share my father, Ronald Wilson Reagan."



President Reagan had many strengths, but he is not generally recognized as having been a strong, involved, and intimate father. When I think of President Reagan and his relationship with his own children, I am reminded of the many biblical stories of tragedy and triumph, of victory and failure within the lives of patriarchs and kings depicted in the narratives from Genesis to Malachi. Somewhere along the long political life of Ronald Reagan, a crucial connection was not made with several of the children, some of whom publicly dishonored their father with highly inappropriate behavior and comments.

But here, through the words of Michael, we get a glimpse at the fatherhood of Ronald Reagan and the power for good that comes when older men continue to disciple their grown children. In Michael's testimony about the then septuagenarian Reagan sharing his faith with his son, we see the hope of a patriarch who desires to know that his children will pass his faith on to future generations and someday stand with him in Paradise.

And so, in Ronald Reagan's last public moment, with the leaders of the world present, with all of America watching, we see the beauty and glory of the grace of God personified through the beaming radiant countenance of a son who loved his father from the depth of his soul. Yes, Michael Reagan beamed. He beamed with the confidence of a man who knows his God, and a son who loved his father.

Michael Reagan performed the duty of a true covenant-keeping son. He communicated to his own children, and the children of the world, the essence of the heart of his father. In so doing, he delivered on behalf of his father the message that the imperfect, aged, but Christ-loving patriarch might have said himself, had Alzheimer's not robbed him of the ability to do so. This is the duty of a true son, and Michael did it well.

How appropriate that the greatest message of Ronald Reagan's life -- his most noble testimony -- was saved for last, and spoken through the words of a son. What was the message? Simply this: The only hope of presidents and paupers, of kings and counselors, is redemption from the penalty of sins and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the world to whom all glory, honor, and dominion is due.


Douglas W. Phillips

Douglas is the father of seven children and president of The Vision Forum, Inc. You can visit his website at: www.VisionForum.com



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Thought For The Day:

Thought For The Day:

"Only when we have knelt before God, can we stand before men."


Verse for the Day:

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."--1 Peter 5:6


Teen's Thought for the Day:

"One of life's greatest rules is this: The more you give, the more you get."



Parent's Thought For The Day

"Train your child in a way in which you know you should have gone yourself."


Coach's Thought For The Day

"Profanity is a device that makes ignorance audible."


Deep Thought For The Day:

"If a man comes to the door dressed in a Pizza-Hut hat, he's probably a pizza guy. If a guy comes to the door dressed in a white hockey mask, he's probably not a pizza guy, and you should close the door in a hurry!"


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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.Heart4Teens.com

Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 19 other inspirational books.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

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ALL-STAR Ministry

--The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI

If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8:30 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerne Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 3 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.)

Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager.


THIS WEEK:

All-Stars: Modesty and Machoism

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UPCOMING TOPICS:

June 27:  Senior Sunday
July 4: They Died For You
July 11:  The Fall


UPCOMING EVENTS:


Thursday July 8: Trip to Great America!

Friday July 16: Lock-In at Central Christian Church!

Saturday July 24: Canoe Trip down the Sugar River (Guys only)

September 18-20: Youth Fall Retreat at Phantom Ranch!

October 29-30: Mall of America Trip!  (Ladies only)

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All-Stars has extended its time to 6:00 - 8:30 PM on Sunday nights. 6:00 - 6:30 will be time for the youth to chat and discuss anything they want with the youth leaders or each other. 6:30 - 7:00 PM will be for games or fun activities and then 7:00 - 8:30 PM will be for the lesson and discussion time. Students are still welcome to "hang out" after 8:30 PM if they want, as the leaders are usually at the church until at least 10:00 PM, and some nights even later. (For the past couple of months the students have continually complained that we are running out of time before we get to really discuss the topics in full and asked if we could have longer teaching times... I know, most of you are probably now getting back up off the floor from the shock. have been most encouraged that the teens have been wanting to stay longer to be able to discuss the lessons more fully.)


The Outlet: "Get plugged into Jesus Christ!" (Teen Cell Groups)

Wednesday night community groups for teens. The groups are limited to no more than ten teens and will be originally split into Jr. High and High School ages. This night is for those teens who want to dig deeper than what we do in All-Stars, but may not be ready to be a part of the Extreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

"Extreme Teens" meet Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at the church. (September -May) This group is very extensive with weekly homework, memorization, service projects, etc. Students interested in this group will have to fill out an application, provide references as to why others think they should be involved with this, and sign an agreement as to what is expected of them.

We are very excited at what God is doing with our youth!


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