Phil Robertson's legacy
- Selah Reverie
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
I recently watched Phil Robertson's funeral. The family kindly put it up for all to see. And what a joy it was. I've never wanted to watch a funeral or ever thought of even halfway enjoying one, but this was great. It touched my heart. His children took turns telling funny stories and some not so funny stories, about his years when he, in his own words,"was running with the devil." Drinking, drugs, cheating, lying, working in a bar. And then he found Christ.
The family tells that his transformation took a while but he went as hard for God as he did the other way. They say "he died" and was replaced with the Phil we all know.
Ouch. I know that story.
A rebirth. "Do not marvel that I say to you, you must be born again" John 3:7
The biggest takeaway for me from watching the funeral was this;
His legacy wasn't in his business.
Not in duck calls.
Not in TV shows.
Not in the millions made from it all.
His true legacy is alive, in his children, his grandchildren and now great grandchildren.
They know his story. They're all aware of how close it came to never being. They talk about it, even made a movie about it. His love for Christ was authentic.
Kids can spot a hypocrite before adults can. The ones who grow up with "Sunday Christian" parents, (or worse,Easter Sunday Christians) develop a bad taste for the whole thing. And I'm not talking about church. I mean convenience Christians. Put it on when it serves them.
As I watched them worship God as a family, singing Phil's favorite songs, hands lifted to heaven, I thought about the scripture
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" 3 John 1:4
It should be what we all want. To leave behind more than stuff (which can be a burden)
I want to leave behind my Faith. Like Jimmy did for me. Like Phil did for his family and thousands upon thousands of strangers who saw in him something real and solid. Eternal.
His story should give all us imperfect parents hope. It's never too late, never too far gone, to turn the ship around. God can redeem the story.
scenes from the day
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