Hi Family
The Lord can bring us life’s lessons in all sorts of ways. We just have to pay attention.
Ever thought about the phrases: “Look where you’re going”or “Watch where you’re going”? I’ve heard them used a number of times particularly when a parent is maybe cautioning a child or when a disgruntled passerby has gotten upset because someone either bumped into them while not paying attention or was simply in their way. “Look where you’re going…watch where you’re going”, valid statements. I’d like to also add two just as vital statements, “Look at what you’re doing and look at what you’ve done.”
The first two statements cautions us on how our choices may affect us. While I feel “Look at what you’re doing and look at what you’ve done” begs our attention as to how our choices may affect us as well as others.
There was a woman walking in front of me one morning. I noticed the footprints she was leaving behind. As she moved forward, intent on getting where she needed to be, she was completely unaware of the impressions she was making as the moments passed in the places she’d stepped through. It made me stop and do something I don’t ever remember doing before. I turned to see what, if any, footprints and impressions I was leaving behind. I found that I too had been obliviously leaving traces of myself behind along my path. It made me think about life and the rippling and lasting effect that our life’s choices could have on those who are to follow us, the generations to come.
As we move through life rarely may we consider the impressions or the marks we’re making. Those coming behind us, however, will undoubtedly see them and will be affected by them as we too have been affected by our ancestors or predecessors. We tend not to look back. But think about it, if we truly looked back, we’d consciously make sure that as we move forward we’d make the right marks or impressions to help those who are after us. My husband schedules his days in a notebook. He plans out his meetings, to dos, trips, prayer and so on, daily. He also does something I think is really great by the week’s end. He reviews his schedules and notes from the entire week. This simple discipline helps him to plan better and make adjustments where necessary. He’s able to see where he could have improved, what he hadn’t gotten done, what he was able to clear off his calendar, how much time needs to be spent in various areas, what things were necessary and those he could have done without. Just a time of reflection can make a world of a difference in our lives. We get opportunities to turn things around and make needful changes. In looking back we make for a better forward, a better future.
The Bible encourages us to “walk prudently, wisely, orderly, uprightly, properly, walk in the Spirit, walk worthy, in wisdom, in integrity, in truth, in God’s word. The scriptures remind us how imperative it is to be mindful of the trails we leave behind for some may choose to walk in our steps. The book of Kings as well as the Chronicles is filled with children/sons walking in the ways of their father, walking in the sins of their father or the kings before them. There were also many who walked uprightly before the Lord as their fathers did. Just as important as who we are following are the examples we are for those who are following us. Jesus made the statement in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me (my words, my path , my ways, according to the Father’s will) shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” Obviously, a great example to follow. And on the other hand, many of us parents can relate to John’s remark, as a spiritual parent, in 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” This comfort and satisfaction comes in knowing that they have learned from us what to do and what not to do and the Lord has allowed them to find the truth in those lessons.
The smallest marks can leave a lasting effect. The woman who was walking ahead of me had tiny feet which still made an impression. Whether large or small, an impression still makes a mark. On your journey’s path, what will you leave behind?
Much Love & God’s Very Best! Your Family at God’s Dynamics Family Building
