"Standing for Something"

“Standing for Something”

 

There’s an old saying (the origin of which has been debated but never nailed down), “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.” I don’t know if he was familiar with this adage, but my father, Lamont McMillan Jr., lived it out and in so doing showed me the importance of sticking by my convictions. He and I didn’t always agree, but we could always talk about our differences without generating more heat than light.

What else did I learn from Dad?

 -Don’t be pressured into quick decisions. Once when someone making a significant request told him he needed a response by the next day Dad replied, “In that case the answer’s no.”

 -Stand for what I believe is right before God. Both of us experienced the “minority of one” feeling which over time He honored.

 -Lead by serving. Dad held leadership positions in several Christian organizations at various times but believed titles were meaningless without actions.

 -Commit for the long term. He and my mother were married for 50 years, he worked for the same company for 45 years, and he served a total of close to 40 years as a deacon in three churches (Brooklyn, Long Island, and New Jersey).

Dad stepped into Heaven on February 23, 1992. Since then my brother Dave and I have said there are still times we’d like to have his input into situations we face. But in a real sense we still do as we remember what he taught us over the years. He wasn’t perfect (neither are we) but he always sought to do what honored his Lord.

The Apostle Paul reminds us to “…live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1). Dad saw his life’s calling as serving God in His work but to use the income from his business expertise to enable him to do so as his gift to Him. Well done, Dad! I pray I’ll fulfill my calling as well.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan