We’ve been spending time recently going through my parent’s house. Those new to Lambchow may not know that my mom passed away over ten years ago, and my dad passed away at the end of February. It now falls to my brother, sister, and myself to sort and distribute their possessions.
And yet, as we gather and distribute the things they cherished at one point or another, I remember what Dad said shortly before he died. It is all just stuff. I know that in his mind and heart, he desired to share a greater legacy with his family. A hope similar to the writer of Psalm 78. “O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.” (Psalm 78:1–4, NLT)
How do we pass on our faith? We tell stories. Stories from the Bible, stories about people of faith in various circumstances, and stories from our own experiences. We also pass on faith by living our faith in many different ways. Children watch us. They see us in our triumphs but also learn much from how we handle defeat and struggle. For instance, do we fly to anger and curses or cast our burden on Christ?
But faith isn’t inherited like a quilt, a set of dishes, or even a house. Each generation must also personally choose to accept and follow Christ. The stories, parables, and truths we share are the good soil where the seed of faith may grow. This takes time, persistence, and consistency. We will not see all the fruit from the seeds of faith we are planting today. Some may go through many struggles before they find Christ. It may even seem hopeless, but keep praying, keep telling stories, keep loving, and keep showing the love of Christ.
And now, through Lambchow, you are also a part of a legacy of faith. The faith of many generations from Adam Heinold and Christian Reeser. From their sons Henry and Samuel, along with their wives. From Loius and Leah Reeser. From Raymond and Hulda Heinold and Joe and Emma Lou Kindred – my grandparents. From Duane and Judy Heinold – my parents. And many, many others that are not listed. Add to those my wife’s family with a legacy of faith dating back to the 1600s. Each with their own story of faith, their own struggles, their own tragedies, and their own joys. A legacy of faith that continues to my children and my grandchildren. Not because of me but because of Christ.
Perhaps you can also point to a heritage of faith—praise God! Perhaps you are the first believer in your family’s remembrance—fantastic! For all of us who believe, the task is the same: to tell of Christ and to live out our faith in humble honesty. Someone once said that faith in Christ is often more caught than taught. We testify with our words, but our lives are often our greater testimony. Whether you are continuing a legacy or starting one, my prayer for you is the same – that you may patiently and consistently show and tell what Christ means to you.
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