A Father’s Legacy | Societal Glitch

Introduction

These talking points and questions are designed to be answered to articulate a man’s legacy which can be shared with his family for generations. The legacy can be answered in writing or recorded in audio or video. These questions should be answered truthfully and honestly. Perhaps these answers are a gift to your children as they turn 18 or get married. Perhaps it is something that you leave to them in your will. For those without children take heart as you can answer these questions all the same and leave the answers with your church congregation. Perhaps start a project within the church which means to collect the documented legacies of men passed. Feel free to add your own questions and talking point to make this uniquely yours.

Self Portrait

Your full given name:
Your date of birth:
Your place of birth:
Your mother’s full name:
The place and date of her birth:
Your father’s full name:
The place and date of his birth:
The names of your paternal grandparents:
The place and dates of their births:
The names of your maternal grandparents:
The place and dates of their births:
The names of your siblings:
The places and dates of their births:
The date and place of your marriage:
The full given name of your wife:
The names and birth dates of your children:

What is your favorite…

Sports:
Books:
Leisure activities:
Desserts:
Authors:
Bible Verses:
Hymns or Songs:
Vacation Spots:
Type of Foods:
Sports Teams:

January

What did you enjoy doing most as a child? Did you prefer doing it alone or with someone else.
Who gave you your nick name and why? Did you have a nickname? How did you get it?
Describe your childhood home? What was your favorite room?
Where were you baptized or dedicated as an infant? If so, where and by whom?
Did you attend church as a young boy? What are your earliest memories of church?
Where did your father go to work everyday and what did he do? Did his work interest you?
Did your mother have a job or did she work at home?
What was your favorite sport or outdoor activity? Why was this your favorite?
Did you pray as a young boy? If so, can you remember a specific prayer? Who taught you to pray?
Where was your childhood home located? Did you enjoy living there?
Describe your grandparents what did you enjoy most about them?
Can you remember being afraid as a boy? What was your greatest fear? How did you deal with it?
Recall for me five of the most important lessons you have learned in life.

February

Did the pastor or visiting missionary ever eat dinner at your house? Did they have an impact on your life?
Did you ever feel that God had a special calling on your life?
Describe the most memorable valentine you ever received. Who sent it to you?
How far did you have to travel to attend elementary, junior high and high school? How did you get there?
Who gave you your first bible and how old were you when you received it? How did it influence your life?
When did you become a Christian and how did your life change?
Did you go to ball games as a boy? What kind of food did you eat?
When you were growing up did you have any animals? What were their names? Was it important to you to have a pet?
Tell me about your mother’s cooking. Can you recall your favorite meal? What made it your favorite?
Did you ever get into fights with other kids? Did you ever start a fight or stop one?
What chores did you have to do when you were growing up? Did you have an allowance? How much was it?
Who gave you your first job and what kind of job was it? How much money did you make?
Share your idea of what makes a good friend.

March

Do you remember your first communion? What influence did it have on you and your family?
Describe you favorite past time or hobby as a child.
What mischievous prank did you pull on someone? How did it affect you?
Did you have a television when you were growing up? What was your favorite program and why?
What were some crazy fads from your school days? Did you participate in them? Why or why not?
Who was your favorite teacher? How did that teacher influence your life?
Did you ever have a special hideaway or clubhouse? Describe it for me.
In high school what extracurricular activities did you enjoy most? Why did you choose those activities?
What is the nicest thing you ever did for your mother and father?
Did you admire a famous person? What made that person admirable?
When did you have your first date? Tell me about it.
What did you remember about your first kiss?
Share some of your insights for working well with others.

April

Did you enjoy reading as a boy? What were some of the most memorable books you read?
What were your family finances like when you were growing up? How did that affect you?
Was there a special person who helped you in your Christian walk? Share something about that person.
When did you first learn about sex? Would you recommend the same for young people today? Why or why not?
As a teenager did you rebel or do things your parents wouldn’t approve of? How do you feel about that now?
List three things that you wish you had done during your junior high school and high school years, but didn’t.
What did your family like to do on weekends? Describe one particularly memorable one.
During childhood, who was your best friend? Share some of your fondest memories of fun times together.
Did you ever keep a scrapbook of photos, autographs, or memories of special occasions? Describe what this meant to you.
What is your favorite memory of your mother? Why is it so special to you?
What image of your father or mother is the most striking in your memory? Why that image?
List on special memory about each of your brothers and sisters?
Share with me your father’s (or mother’s. attitude toward life and how that affected you.

May

If you were to find an old toy box in your attic, what toys would you remember most fondly? Why?
How old were you when you understood that God loves you? How did that affect your life?
Describe a time your life when you feel God led you in an unusual way.
What kind of car did your family drive? Were you proud of it or embarrassed by it? Why?
Did you ever go to a dance? Tell me about it.
How often did your family go to church? What Pastor or Sunday school teacher do you remember most? How did that person influence you?
Did your family attend family reunions? What activities did everyone enjoy? Tell me about your favorite cousins, aunts, or uncles.
When you were young, did you ever go to a funeral? How did that affect you?
If you had brothers sisters, did you feel your parents treated you all the same? Why or why not? If you were an only child, did you wish for brothers and sisters? Why?
Did your high school have college or career days? What field interested you most? What did you want to become when you grew up?
If you went to college or to a career training school, where did you go and why?
Where did you live when you were going to college or developing a career? Describe an unforgettable experience from that time in your life.
Share some principles from scripture on which you have chosen to build your life.

June

If you learned to play a musical instrument, tell me your memories of lessons, practice, and your music teacher. If not, what instrument did you want to play and why?
What were your youthful goals and ambitions for life? Which ones have you been able to fulfill?
How old were you when you met Mom? What attracted you to her?
When did you know that Mom was the “one and only one” for you? How did you know?
Share a memory about the way you proposed to Mom.
Tell me about your wedding day. What happened? How did you feel? Were you nervous, scared, happy?
Where did you go on your honeymoon? Describe at least one humorous thing that happened to you and Mom.
Do you remember the first meals Mom cooked for you? Do you dare comment on them?
Describe where you and Mom lived after you got married. What was the view like from the kitchen window?
When did you and Mom start talking about having children? Why did you want children or did you?
If you could go anywhere in the world on a second honeymoon, where would you go? Why?
What do you love best about Mom now?
Record here your ideas on what it takes for a husband and wife to maintain a healthy marriage.

July

Describe the most fun you ever had on a fourth of July.
Tell me about your family summer outing when you were young. Did you go camping? Fishing? Swimming?
Did you ever travel abroad? How old were you and where did you go?
Who is the most interesting foreigner you have ever met? What did this person help you learn about his or her culture?
If you served in the armed forces, describe how your time in the service affected your life. If you did not serve how did this affect your life?
Have your ever believed so strongly in a cause that you marched in a rally or demonstrated in protest? What was the cause? Why was it important to you?
What is the gutsiest thing you ever did in your life? Why did you do it?
Where do you stand politically? Do you lean toward the left or right? Who if anyone, has most greatly influenced your current political views?
Did a tragedy ever strike your family? If so, how did it affect you?
What is the best movie you’ve ever seen? If you could play one of the characters in the film, whom would you choose, and why?
How would you finish the sentence? “One thing my Dad always said was…”
Did you ever go to summer camp? Camping with the boy scouts? Share on unforgettable memory.
Share a favorite poem. Passage of writing, or some quotes that have been especially meaningful in your life.

August

Is there any one book or author who helped you to develop a philosophy of life? Share some of those insights.
How have your ideas about God changed from when you were young?
What kind of outdoor work do you enjoy? Dislike?
What is your favorite way to spend a day of leisure?
When did you learn how to ride a bike or to water ski, snow ski, roller skate, or sail? Share your memories of the experience.
Did you ever milk a cow or spend time on a farm or in the country? Tell me about it.
What places in the world would you still like to visit? Why?
Is there any childhood fear that still haunts you? How do you deal with this fear?
How do you enjoy helping people? Share a time when you helped someone in need?
If you could carve one more face on Mt. Rushmore, whose face would it be? Why?
In what ways are you like your mother? Like your father?
Looking back in life, what one thing would you have done differently? Why?
Share some tips for a great vacation.

September

Did you learn mechanics or woodworking as a young person? How and when? What were some of your most memorable projects?
Tell about a special outing you took with your Dad. What makes this a poignant memory for you?
As a young person did you volunteer for work in church, community, or social service? Tell me about it.
When did you move away from home? Describe where you lived and how you felt about it.
Tell me about some of your closest friends after you and Mom got married. What were some of the fun things you would do together?
What are you spiritual strengths?
How would you like to grow spiritually?
What special talents did your parents nurture in you? How have you developed those talents?
What would you still like to learn to do? Why?
What did you enjoy doing with your mom? Share a special time with her.
How would you describe yourself: tenderhearted or tough-minded?
If you were to write a book about mom, how would you title the book? The first few chapters?
How do you describe “success”?

October

Who are some of the best public speakers you have ever heard? Why did they impress you?
If you could have two hours of conversation with anyone on Earth, who would that be? Why that person? What would you talk about?
What spiritual legacy would you like to leave for others? Why is this important to you?
Share a hilarious travel experience.
What bible verse or scripture puzzles you the most? Which blesses you the most? Why?
Have you ever been in an accident, had surgery or a long illness? How did this affect your outlook on life?
Do you have a favorite sports team? Why is that one your favorite?
What responsibilities did your parents require of you as a child? How did this affect your growth and development? How you raised your children?
What is the most frightening thing that has ever happened to you? How did you handle the experience?
What events in life have strengthened or weakened your belief in prayer?
When and where did you buy your first house or piece of real estate? Describe the significance this held for you.
What is the strangest thing you have ever seen?
Share some of your ideas on how to develop and maintain good physical health.

November

As a teenager, did you belong to a club or church youth group? Tell me about the individuals in the group who were most significant to you.
What is your most treasured possession and why?
What Bible character would you most like to meet? Why?
What two people have made the greatest spiritual impact on your life? What made them so significant to you?
When you were a new parent, what was your greatest fear? Your greatest joy?
What is your most vivid memory about my childhood?
What would you change about my childhood if you could?
Describe a fond Thanksgiving memory. What makes this special to you?
What are some things from your childhood that you are thankful for?
What childhood memory first comes to mind when you think about winter? How do you respond to that memory?
Describe the most interesting person you ever met. What were the qualities that made that individual so outstanding?
What family customs or traditions would you like to pass on to your children and grandchildren? Why are they important to you?
Tell me what four things you would never leave behind on a trip and explain why.

December

Describe some Christmas traditions from your childhood and tell how they have influenced your life.
Were you ever in a Christmas program? How did you respond to it?
What was the best Christmas present you ever received? Why was that the best?
Tell about a memorable Christmas with relatives.
What was your favorite Christmas carol? Why?
What would be the most wonderful gift you could receive? Why?
Tell me about when God answered a specific prayer for you.
What would you like to see happen in the next ten years in your life? In the world?
As you look back in life, name three of the most fantastic changes that have taken place in the world. How have these affected your life?
Where would you still like to go and would you like to do once you got there?
What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?
What word best describes your life. Explain why.
What advice about life do you want others to remember?

Locations

Schools you attended
Homes you lived in
Theaters you enjoyed

Additional Questions, Answers, and Advice

Thoughts on Death
Living Simply
How would you like to be remembered? Are there any philosophies you would like to share with future generations?