Pass It On

"Be strong, be courageous, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes . . ." - 2 Kings 2:2

Dear Friends in Christ -

Each year, it gets easier, and it gets harder. I'm talking about the back-to-school routine. This is the fifth year for me, the fifth time 'round that I'm getting the kids ready for a new year, a new set of challenges, a new season of growth. I've pretty much got the basics down: the school uniforms are purchased, washed and hanging in their closets; the backpacks are selected and have been filled with the stuff on their school list; the summer homework is almost complete.

Each year, it gets easier, and it gets harder. Getting the "stuff" organized is a flurry of activity but easier to manage each time I do it. The hard part is getting the kids ready - in their minds, in their hearts, passing on to them what they need to know to be who God is calling them to be.

In today's Old Testament lesson (see the sidebar on the right for information on how to find the full Daily Office Readings for yourself), David is passing things on to his son, Solomon. The truth is, he almost waited 'til too late. He nearly died before he passed along some things that Solomon really needed to know.

What do your kids - or your grandkids or the kids in your neighborhood - need to know? Do you live your life in such a way that they pick those things up from you? Have you come right out and told them what's important to you - and why?

As a country, we've spent a lot of time bemoaning the state of our ecomony, the state of our city government, the state of our schools. But have we done what our God calls us to do? Are we living in His love and light, and passing that love and light down to our children?

An old camp-song says, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going." Of course, the presumption is that we have the spark, that we will "Pass It On."

At this crucial time in the lives of our families, in the life of our world, may we all have the power and the grace to equip the next generation not only with stuff, but also with the power that comes from living in God's way.

Faithfully with you,
Janet+