I promise I’m not a hoarder. Okay, maybe slightly, but I promise you won’t see me in a documentary about hoarding. I’ll be the first to admit that I get too emotionally attached to things, often things of little monetary worth, but of great emotional value.
A few months back, my mother was cleaning out some things at her home and filled a box with old toys and such that were mine. She thought I might want to see if my kids wanted them before she threw them out. It brought me so much joy to see my kids, especially my youngest, Philip, playing and laughing with the same toys that I loved playing with as a little boy. One toy in particular, a little wooden puppy you pull on a string, has been by his side for weeks.
I’m not suggesting you try to save money by re-wrapping your former toys as gifts for your kids this year. However, I am suggesting that there is something special in passing things on, whether it be toys, traditions, or especially our faith.
Deuteronomy 6:4-8 (ESV) says this:
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
“Teach diligently” in the original Hebrew conveys a sense of repetition, of going over again and again. It means we don’t just read the Luke 2 account of Jesus’ birth once and expect young people or new Christians to get it. It means that we continue to share the meaning of Christmas with people again and again. It’s a story that bears repeating, that is worthy of contemplating afresh every year, and not just in December.
As I got ready for work the other day, David, my 7-year-old, was the only one awake. He was playing a video game as I was putting on my shoes. I decided it was a perfect time to impart some deep spiritual insight.
“Dave, you know the real meaning of Christmas, right?
“Yeah, Dad. Lights and presents and stuff.”
“Well, that’s part of it, but it’s mostly about Jesus.”
“Oh Yeah! It’s his birthday, right?”
“Well, sort of. It’s when we celebrate him coming to earth and being our savior. He came so that we could go to Heaven when we die and be better people who follow God.”
I’m not gonna lie, I was sort of proud of myself. But any illusion that I had once and for all explained this to Dave was shattered by his next phrase: “Cool. Hey dad! I’m killing zombies!”
“Good talk, Dave. Good talk.” as I rolled my eyes and headed out the door.
Passing on our faith, like passing on traditions of Christmas, takes more than a single conversation. It means investing in others and telling the story of Jesus again and again. How are you passing on your faith this year? It may mean inviting loved ones to Church or a Christmas Eve service. Maybe taking time to explain to others what Christmas is truly about. The important thing is to do it. Pass it on today!
Prayer:
Father, Thank you for sending your Son to earth, to be our Savior and King. Help me to pass my faith on to others today and throughout this season. May many people come to Jesus. Amen
Adam Will 