Like Father, Like Son

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Among the more than 3,000 Americans who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, there is one father/son combination. The father won it for a single act of bravery in a crucial battle of the Civil War. By the time he retired in 1909, he was the ranking officer in the United States Army and one of the most famous soldiers of his era.

But his son rose to even greater fame. In 1941 he headed up the U.S. forces in the Philippines, and he led the gallant defense of the Bataan peninsula and the island of Corregidor. Although the battles fought there ended in defeat, the bravery displayed by the Americans and their leader provided inspiration to thousands of soldiers and sailors and to millions of workers on the home-front.

This man's name was General Douglas MacArthur, and his father was Arthur MacArthur, Jr. No doubt the son's greatness can be traced in part to the outstanding heritage left to him by his dad.

Our children may not follow that closely in our footsteps. Yet the virtues of courage, honesty, and love for God can leave such a deep impression on their lives that whatever their career, they'll never forget the example set for them. "Like father, like son" is a compliment when both generations walk in the ways of the Lord.

Source unknown. Contributed by Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, PastorLife.com.