Written by Sam Agogo
If your children grew up to mirror your life exactly as it is today—your values, habits, relationships, integrity, spending habits, and character—would you be proud or ashamed?
This is not just a rhetorical question. It’s one that invites deep personal reflection.
Recently, I accompanied a friend to visit a man who was seriously ill. Sadly, he passed away. This man had two intelligent sons, but he never invested time or discipline into raising them. Though financially successful for many years, he lived recklessly—well known for his indulgence in extramarital affairs, even with married women. People often joked that he held a “PhD in womanizing.”
Over time, his lavish lifestyle caught up with him. As his wealth dwindled, he began selling off properties just to make ends meet. When his health failed, his wife stood by him and took him to the hospital, where he eventually died.
On the day he passed, his wife reached out to their eldest son—the heir apparent—to come and see his father one last time before he was moved to the mortuary. But the boy was unreachable; he had taken his father’s car to a night club. When mourners began arriving, this same son, who should have been welcoming guests, sat far from the house smoking hard drugs.
Another story comes to mind—that of a wealthy, powerful man known for his fearlessness and rumored involvement in dark, diabolical practices. One of his sons, deeply addicted to drugs, once exchanged his father’s brand-new car—worth over ₦60 million—for a hit of cocaine. The father had to pay the full amount to recover his vehicle.
Then there’s the case of a young man whose mother was highly successful and indulged him in everything. To curb his disruptive behavior at home, she helped him secure a prestigious job at one of Nigeria’s top organizations. But he resigned soon after, claiming he couldn’t tolerate being given instructions by people he considered younger or less experienced. He returned home, uninterested in building a future.
Each of these stories speaks to one undeniable truth: the way we live influences those coming after us. Children rarely listen to what we say when our lives scream a different message.
If your story echoes any of these, may grace find you and turn things around. But if your journey is still unfolding, be intentional about the life you lead today—because your children may follow in your footsteps, whether you want them to or not.
May God help us all to leave behind a legacy worth replicating.
#ReflectAndLiveRight
#LegacyMatters
#SaveTheNextGeneration
#SamAgogoWrites
