My dad passed away in 2010, and I still think of him often and miss him immensely. He is heavy on my heart today because it would have been his 81st birthday. Also, he had Alzheimer’s Disease, and tomorrow I’m participating in our community yard sales and donating all proceeds to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
I love how God can use everyday experiences – like a random song, encounter, or message – to teach us, speak to our hearts, and give us peace. That happened on my way home from work tonight, as I was listening to some of my favorite podcast programs.
I happened to listen to the July 31, 2019, Morning Mindset Daily Christian Devotional podcast, which discussed Psalm 78:1-8 and sharing God’s Word with our children so that it will be handed down from generation to generation. The segment caused me to ponder the life my dad and his dad (my grandpa) displayed to me and the legacy they each lived and left for their family.
I honestly recall very few conversations with them involving Scriptures from the Bible. I don’t remember either of them quoting Scripture to me. Yet, I know they were Christians and had a heart for God.
How did I know that if they didn’t speak it? Both my dad and my grandpa lived out their faith in their actions and characters. I believe they each lived out their legacy of faith and a godly life in front of me as I grew up with them. I saw God’s love in action through each of them as they displayed a:
- Quiet, calm spirit
- Patient demeanor
- Concern for others
- Devotion to their spouses
- Hard work and determination to support and provide for their children
- Studying God’s Word (Although I don’t remember many in-depth discussions about the Bible with either of them, I do remember seeing them with their Bibles opened before them.)
Dad and Grandpa also showed me that weekly church attendance was important to them, and Dad took me along, too! He also took me to any church youth activity I wanted, no matter how far. If he hadn’t taken me to church with him on a regular basis and I hadn’t been grounded in God’s Word, I may not have the relationship with Christ that I have today.
Dad and Grandpa may not have “preached” to me, but I knew God was important to them. Even at a young age, I was soaking in their examples. Little did I know I was watching them live out their legacy of a life in God’s love.
Don’t get me wrong; I know it’s important to share the words of Scripture that explain how we may be saved, as well as how to live a life that’s pleasing to God. Sharing our testimony of what God has done for us and backing it up with Scripture can be so powerful in providing hope for others.
But I want my testimony and my legacy to be seen in action. I want to live out my faith and share the joy I have in my life with Christ. I want to be living a legacy that will hopefully be passed from generation to generation after me. I hope I’m showing the same loving, godly example to my daughter that was shown to me by my Dad and Grandpa; and I hope that she sees how important my God is to me.
Lord, thank You for the legacy of loving You that my Dad and Grandpa gave to me. Help me to share Your words but also to LIVE my life in a way that points others toward You, so that they may have hope and You can receive the glory from generation to generation.
