I Choose Joy - June
I Choose Joy
- Ginny Dent Brant
Like Father Like Daughter Like Father
I grew up a card-carrying, daddy’s girl who followed wherever my father went. For me that meant political rallies, the Capitol, and eventually the White House because my father served a Senator and three Presidents. He taught me how to dance, and we cut the rug to the same tune for many years. I wanted to be like him.
Political life can be tough on a family. That rug was pulled out from underneath me, when my father’s career caused us to move numerous times. These devastating moves motivated me to look beyond myself for answers to life’s disappointments. At age 17, I got involved in Young Life, gave my life to Jesus, and grew in spiritual ways my parents did not understand. My father felt my dedication was idealistic. He feared I might become a “gosh awful missionary” and live in poverty. At this time, I was on a quest to be more like my Heavenly Father.
Motivated by love, my father thwarted my path. He forbid me to attend Columbia Bible College (CBC) where God was leading me. I was torn between my earthly father and my Heavenly Father. I wanted to please my father, but how should I deal with my spiritual promptings? My heart’s desire yearned to follow my Heavenly Father and to please Him.
As I continued down the forbidden path and attended CBC, my dad continued to express his disapproval warning, “You’ll never be a success in this world.” It was hard to say “no” to a man who advised presidents. My father and I were no longer dancing to the same tune.
In the midst of my struggle and tears, my Heavenly Father brought Matthew 6:33 to comfort and guide me.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJ)
I grew up in a life doused with worldly success. I’d never been at a crossroads where my faith in God put me at odds with my own father. Yet this verse was instructing me to pursue God’s ways, not man’s ways. His Kingdom and his desires must be first in my life—not my father’s worldly definition of success. This verse gave me the courage to step out in obedience to God. It also gave me assurance that God would take care of “all these things”—my concerns.
My Heavenly Father was teaching me to dance to His song—a radically different definition of success. The dance with my Heavenly Father was so inviting, I wanted my father to share in its joy and eternal significance. Yet, we continued to spin in different directions.
I petitioned the gates of Heaven for my dad. I endured subtle persecution. At my ropes end, I heeded the advice of a wise professor. He advised me to keep praying, live my life as a witness and allow God to work in his life. I obliged and strived to let him see Jesus in me.
In looking back, God was working from the first moments I began to pray, He was bringing people and circumstances into my father’s life to bring him to his knees. One night, I left a plaque under his pillow that read, “The purpose of life is to serve God.” In 1978, my father finally surrendered his life to Christ. He shocked the world of politics when he gave up his political career to enter fulltime ministry. The logo of his ministry came from that plaque.
When former colleague and White House aide, Chuck Colson, heard about my father’s decision, he gave him some sound advice. “Harry, before you go into ministry, you need to study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation under wise counsel,” he said. You’ll never guess where my father enrolled to get his training! Yes—the forbidden place—Columbia Bible College!
When my father put God and His Kingdom first, God transformed my father from a political strategist to His Kingdom strategist—a man who would help the underground churches and Romanian government to come to freedom after Communism. Oh, the irony that he became that missionary he forbid me to be! God truly has a sense of humor.
In 1998, I accompanied my father on one of his many mission trips to Romania. After planting nearly 50 churches in Romania, the men and women who came out of the underground church asked me this question, “Ginny, what was your father like before he came to Christ?”
With a giggle, I responded. “He was a little like your communist leaders. He did everything he could to stop me from following my faith, but he didn’t beat me. He honestly tried to stop me from what he perceived was the biggest mistake of my life—because he loved me.”
Front the front row, my father blurted out, “It’s true, every word of it. I was horrible.” The roar of laughter from those who endured great persecution lifted the rooftops that day.
Our brudder Harry, like former communist leaders!” I heard one pastor say. The difference between my father and their cruel leaders was clearly love.
Each night as I lay down, tears of joy streamed down my cheeks and dampened my pillow. After seeing many of the churches my father had planted with Romanian pastors and the ministries he started, I was overcome with gratitude to my Heavenly Father. He’d far exceeded my simple prayer of salvation for my father. His love for us drew both of us to Him. How deep is our Father’s love for us!
My father and I had both learned the eternal significance of putting God and His kingdom first and dancing to His song. My heart continues to overflow with praise to God—even after my father’s passing to Heaven from Alzheimer’s disease. One day, we will dance again in eternity, but we will dance to His perfect tune.
When I gave my heart to Jesus, I started that dance that made me more like Him. When my father eventually saw His likeness in me, he realized his need to become more like Him. God is faithful and took care of “all these things.” There is no greater blessing than dancing in unison with both my earthly and Heavenly Father.
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Her recent book, Unleash Your God-given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer, is a Golden Scrolls winner and Selah Award finalist. It was written with commentary from an oncologist after her cancer journey. Learn more and cancer prevention blog at www.ginnybrant.com.