Passing on the Legacy

Driving home last night from Costco, I was listening to a message on the radio about what we pass on from one generation to the other. The message got me to thinking about that very thing, especially on the day after Mother's Day.

The preacher was talking about the "stuff" we pass down from one generation to another: jewelry, china, trophies, furniture... all those things that collect dust and cause family squabbles.

On Sunday at worship we gave thanks for the ways that mothers care for their families and for others, and acknowledged the influence they have in our lives (both good and bad).

And the two together has me thinking about what we do pass down from one generation to another.

In addition to the recipe for macaroni and cheese and angel cake, we should be passing down the respect for the home arts and for the women who choose to stay at home to raise their children. We also need to pass along the respect for those who wish they could but cannot because of financial issues. Most of all we should be supporting the next generation of mothers by passing along lessons and love.

Rather than the jewels and furniture, we should be more concerned about the life skills and experiences we are passing down. When our children remember us will it be as understanding and caring? or absent and consumed with amassing those jewels and furnishings?

Sometimes an heirloom evokes memories that are clear and almost tangible. Will those be positive memories of fun and laughter with parents who were loving and fair? Or of parents who were too busy and too angry and too mean?

What will our children and grandchildren inherit from us? Will it be furniture and land and money? Things that will either be put in an attic or cabinet for fear of being harmed, or eventually fall apart from use and be tossed away?

Will they inherit a world that we have used up? or will they inherit our respect for God's creation and our attempts to do less harm than good? Will they inherit high blood pressure and obesity and addictions? or will they inherit our desire to eat organically and be active and lead a healthy lifestyle?

Rather than passing down the family Bible, we should be more concerned about passing down the family faith - a faith that will still be fresh and strong for generations to come. We should be raising them to believe and trust in God - to look to Jesus for salvation and the Holy Spirit for guidance - and how to discern the teachings they hear, rather than passing along the family pew in what we consider the "right" denomination. We should be leaving them the power of prayer, that they can be in continual conversation with a Father who will be the perfect parent even though we weren't.

So I ask you today, as you are praying about your family and all those of the next generation in your sphere of influence, to pray how you would be used to leave a legacy - an inheritance - of faith and salvation.