Friday, April 13, 2012

No More Piggybacks


Remember as a kid when you played with your friends and gave each other piggyback rides? Of course, it always helped to play with a friend who was bigger than you so they would be the ones doing the carrying!

I was reminded of this recently as I read about King Hezekiah and his gratitude for what the Lord was doing for him. In Isaiah 38:19, it reads, “Each generation can make known your faithfulness to the next.” When I read that, I wrote the following in my journal: “I desperately want to pass along a legacy of faith to future generations. My children have to develop their own walk of faith and not piggyback on mine. While I want them to know what the Lord has done for me and see His hand in all our lives up to this point, they have to write their own faith narrative. God was working in our family for an unknown number of generations, building a history of belief in all of us, and I marvel at how blessed I am to now have my own legacy of faith.”

It’s true; I have a substantial amount of genealogical information about my family, and as far back as we know, we are a people of faith.  But my children can’t inherit their faith in the same way they claim the family’s brown eyes or short stature. They have to find their own way. 

The bottom line is this: I can accept Isaiah’s charge to make sure my children know about God’s faithfulness in my life. I can do my part to tell them the stories of ways He has guided me, answered my prayers, provided for me. And I can pass along the tales I heard my parents and grandparents tell about God’s faithfulness, passing the baton to the next generation.

Copyright © 2012

1 comment:

jeanne said...

Jewell was indeed a very special lady. Those of us who knew her, were very aware of all her charming qualities. I will always think fondly of her, as well as your dad!!!! Thinking of all the wonderful memories she has brought you..........gives you a wonderful Mother's Day!! I hope you have a great one!!!!!