Remember This

And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 2 Peter 1:15 NIV

What do you want your children to remember most that you have taught them? I have thought a lot about my answer to that question. I'm not morbid. I firmly believe I am in the Sovereign hand of God and that my life will not end until He says so. But, I also know that my ways are not His ways. I fully expect to see my boys graduate from high school and college, and I really would enjoy rocking grandchildren someday, but that is certainly not a guarantee I have been given. I could die any day, if it be God's will. So, I need to know, what would I want my boys to remember?

First and foremost, I would want them to love Jesus with all their heart. I really believe if that was their goal everything else in their life would fall into place. Sure, I could prepare them for shifts in the economy, for marriage, and train them to do household repairs (actually I couldn't teach them that, but I have friends that could). I could steer them towards great schools and encourage them to be intellectuals. There are lots of things I could ask them to remember, but if the love of Jesus is firmly in their heart, I believe that He will direct their paths. Period!

If that is my goal and desire, and it is, then I need to set about a path to see that it is carried out. In the event I weren't here a few years from now, I need them to have ways to remember my sincere goal for their life. To that end, I labor today to model the love of Christ in my life. I strive to share the Bible with them. I allow them to hear me pray frequently. Most of all, I attempt to let them see the love of Christ in my heart and daily life.

May I ask you to consider what others would remember about you?