Ridgell's Originals

Sunday at Southern Hills we showed a video clip of my father-in-law, Don Herttenberger, talking about his Dad, Beno. Poppa, as the family called him, lived in Old Glory, Texas and raised five boys and one girl when times were tough. The clip had Granpa sharing memories of hobos getting off the train and coming to their house asking for food. And they always got something. Those without received food from a family that didn't have it to share but did anyways. Somehow everyone had enough.

Granpa learned that spirit of giving. For years he carried soup around to some of our shut-ins. He has shared pecans and peanut brittle. Granny has fixed lots of meals for lots of people. I know they have helped a lot of people.

His daughter, my wife Marsha, learned it from her parents. Just like I learned it from mine. It is natural at our house to feed others. We have a freezer full of meals for people who face sickness, have babies, or who are going thru a tough time and just don't need to cook.

And our kids learned it from us. And their kids will learn it from them. And on it goes.

People are either givers or takers. I am glad to be part of a legacy of givers that is ongoing. It is not about how much we have -- God takes care of that. It is about how much we share with others.

So if you are a giver, is it a family legacy? Do you see it in your kids?