
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6
I was very fortunate as a child to have a mom who raised me to have respect for others and the importance of having proper manners when interacting with anyone I came into contact with. To this very day, I still live by this code that was taught to me as a child. But now it has taken on a whole new aspect as it relates to my faith. Before I knew Jesus I was nice to others and expressed proper manners because it seemed the right thing to do. That is not a bad thing at all and is lacking in today's society in my opinion. But now that Jesus has become my Savior I act the same way but my motivation is not to do what is right in my eyes, but to show love and value in others according to what Christ did for me and to pass it on as an example of that love. It's no longer about me and being a nice person. Now I live to bring glory to God by showing others that they have great worth and are loved by him. My mom taught me as a child how to treat others and it has never left me as its a part of who I am today. God took those lessons learned back then and transformed them to have a greater purpose and meaning that now has the ability to share the good news of Jesus Christ by my actions before I speak a word. We are called to share his love. Talk is cheap if your actions do not reflect what's living in your heart first. Then by his mercy, you earn the right to share that hope and plant seeds of faith in the lives of others in need of his healing touch. May we all be like children in humility and gentleness be willing to become living epistles of his love and forgiveness. And point others to the only true giver of life here and now and for eternity in heaven. Amen!
