I know people who are generous. I know people who are stingy. I know people who are encouraging. I know people who are deceptive. I know people who are patient. I know people who are easily ruffled. I think about traits that mark an impression and define a life and lifestyle.
How will my children remember me?
How will my words or actions influence a stranger?
Whether my life is lived in a big way or a small way, it will leave a mark that seems temporary, but one that has a potential to affect generations. (Lord, help me steward well what you’ve entrusted me.)
The Lord speaks of being set apart as holy in Leviticus.
7 So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy. (Leviticus 20:7-8, NLT)
I find comfort in these words as they point to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. He is the Lord who makes me holy. He is at work within me, transforming me.
26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. (Hebrews 7:26-27, NLT)
I don’t expect my kids to master any topic in a first reading. Learning takes practice. I’m so grateful for a gracious God who will walk with me all the years of my life to guide and correct me and love me all the while–on my good days, on my bad days.
Lord God, thank you for your words in my hands, that I can turn to you for instruction and wisdom. Thank you for your great patience in my life, the hard tests and tasks that transform me. Thank you for relationship–that I can be close to you and know I am loved.
Courtney (66books365)
From the archives. Originally published February 22, 2018.
Sixty-six books in a year 
An incredible reminder of His grace and love that calls me to a walk that I pray my children will see as one of holiness that became my trait as the Holy Spirit gave me the strength to live.
On the other side of raising children to have adult children and seeing how God has been active in their lives a number of times I have said that when I grow up I want to have the faith of my children. That has been humbling. Now looking at what we can do to build into our grand children. What a blessing!
Great read this morning. Thank you,
Dave
And it’s so important for our kids (young and adult!) to see us in the middle of that learning-to see that we can fail and still make progress, to know that we struggle, even as adults, to learn and walk humbly with faith. I think, too often, we shelter them from our struggles and miss some great opportunities to let them see God at work in US!