There's a distinctive story of the parallels of President Gerald Ford and Rev. Jesse Jackson that is mostly overlooked. It's the lesser known story of Jesse.
Jesse Jackson's passing on Monday is a reminder of an era when men of significance shaped the world we now live in, based on their convictions. He made a difference with his life.
But there is more to the Jesse Jackson story than political activism. There is a large factor that shaped him into a leader as he grew into manhood.
Jesse Louis Burns was born in the South to a single mother. When he was a baby, a postal worker named Charles Henry Jackson, stepped in to father Jesse and married his mom. Not much was written about Charles Jackson, but I know one thing. He was a good father. He stepped in and stepped up.
The evidence of Charles Jackson's fathering is three things. First, he adopted Jesse. Second, his son lived a meaningful life. Third, although Jesse maintained a relationship with his biological father, he went by the last name of Jackson for the rest of his life. Charles gave Jesse a good name. That's the mark of a good father.
Jesse took Jackson's name into the offices of many U.S. presidents. One of those was Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
President Ford's story ran parallel. He was born Leslie Lynch King to a father so abusive that his mother was forced to flee for her life. She later married Gerald Rudolff Ford, a good father who gave her son his own name, a good name.
Gerald R. Ford, Jr. kept his stepfather's name—and took it all the way to the White House. Even though President Ford was not officially adopted, it was his name to keep.
Jesse and Gerald - fathered and mentored by men who showed up. Men who passed on a good name.
This world needs men who will father the next generation. At Christian Men's Network, we teach men to have a "father's heart." The world needs men who have the spirit of a father. Men who will shape and lead young men into manhood. Men who will leave their mark on a young man's life through mentoring and encouragement. Men who will pass on a good name.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, who will receive a spirit of adoption from us? What young man will we mentor and help grow into manhood? You may never know the impact that young man will have.
Who will bear your name, or bless your name?
