Kids, Baton and a Legacy
One of the core needs we have as people is significance. This is an inherent part of who we are as everyone is reaching to make a difference. We thrive in this as it pushes us through limitations and when someone is gripped by it, great things happen. What’s amazing is, we don’t need money, fame or glamour to be fulfilled in this way. In fact, significance is not about what we collect over time but rather what we invest into others. The greatest impact we have is what we give because that will last for generations. The purpose of our lives is revealed in what we share. This is how God made us and this is why we were made to live for something bigger than ourselves. Therefore, significance begins with our kids!
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”
Psalms 127:3
Notice that kids are a gift and a reward to us. That’s right, your teenager is a gift and your two year old is a gift. I can see you either smiling or frowning right now but this is true. Yet, our kids present challenges and parenting isn’t easy. Our kids go through different phases of life and they’re bombarded with a variety of attacks, temptations and pressures that we didn’t have in our day. On top of these things there are waves of ideas coming at us about our kids and it surprises me. In many ways our culture is minimizing kids with attitudes and ideas of them being a burden and if you have a lot of them, you’re crazy. There is a lot of focus on the burden of raising kids verses the joy in it. We see TV shows, read articles and sadly see mothers and fathers abandon their family for “their dream.” These examples and more are an epidemic in our country and many times it’s selfish and short-sided. Therefore, we must remember that God has a plan for our families and when we live our lives through Him, significance will happen.
So what does Kids, a Baton and Legacy have to do with you?
Everything! You see, right down the hallway or in the room next to ours, is a treasure and a reward from God. The greatest investment we can make is into our kids and when we do this, something great happens. However, this is why our families are attacked with selfishness, rebellion and division to the point, we make fun of the idea in “Leave it to Beaver” as weird and not normal (this was a TV show that portrayed and loving, healthy family). Think about it, we make fun of what is normal, to embrace what is abnormal. This is deception and God has better for us. Our homes will never be perfect but they can be healthy. We can have love and trust in sharing and communicating with honesty. This is the heart of God for you and for me; therefore, the baton must be passed and legacy must be valued.
So what do we do next?
First there’s the Baton. Life is a relay race with generations going before us, paving the way ahead and then it’s the next generations turn to do the same. We don’t have to be the fastest or the best, we just need to run the race and pass the baton. This speaks to graciously giving and serving our kids as the leaders in their lives. It’s overcoming personal insecurities so we empower them to be better than we were and achieve more than we did. It’s setting them up to win as a pro-active influencer in their lives. This is good and should be the goal of every parent. As parents we get the chance to break cycles that are unhealthy and create a new trajectory for our family tree. How awesome! We can change the narrative of our families through the power of Jesus. Because of this opportunity, we must pass the Baton with grace, selflessness and care. We must make the decision to teach what it means to be a man and what it means to be a lady. We must actively speak into our kids? lives, leading where they should be instead of where they want to go. They idea of letting them figure it out on their own is potentially disastrous as everyone needs leadership in their lives. We’re not raising adult babies but rather strong adults who will lead their families and pass the Baton themselves. This is our joy and this is our chance to have significance. I encourage you to be a Baton parent. Lead with love and give your all because our kids will grow up and then they must receive the Baton.
Second, we have legacy. Our greatest legacy is what we impart into our kids verse what we give our kids. Things can rust, be given away or even lost but what we invest in their hearts we will never leave them. I do believe it’s great to give special gifts, mementos and more to our kids, it’s just to invest in them is the greatest thing we can do for them. This is why we must model living for God and giving our heart to Jesus. This is why they must see us make decisions based on God’s word. This is monumental since kids model what they see more than what they hear. Therefore, after our money is gone and after houses fade, what we’ve put in them will be the dominate memory and legacy they have from us. In fact, our legacy can go to multiple generations so must be intentional with what we’re putting in them. I encourage you to live for Jesus. Lead your family through his word. Make decisions by what he says and lead with generations on your mind. Most of today’s concerns will not matter one hundred years from now, but what we put in them can make an impact one hundred years from now in ways we’ve never dreamed.
Don’t give up. Keep going. Stay faithful to your family. Don’t abandon your post. Be a part of community to receive support and help in time of need. Your Kids are too important as a Baton and Legacy are ahead of you. So move forward, you have something to give. Your current or future kids are a gift and reward from God; therefore, you have what it takes to pass the Baton and leave a legacy. This is your part of the relay race, so run strong. Be bold. Go at your pace and keep your eyes on Jesus! Life is amazing when you find significance through Him!
The life that gives to others, lives for generations.
May the Lord bless you and your family. May His plan and purpose be fulfilled in your life and may you thrive with your Kids, a Baton and your Legacy.
The best is yet to come,
PD
