INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday was our youngest’s birthday, and our oldest daughter just had a birthday a few weeks ago. For each of them this year, I did something different instead of posting on social media the embarrassing pictures of when they were young, you know those baby pictures, the goofy hairstyles, the princess dresses, ya some of them were good, anyway, yes I did something different. I shared with them the birthday prayer. It’s been a tradition in our family since our kids were little to pray the birthday prayer over them.

The tradition of saying the birthday prayer began with a very dear friend of ours. He became a father figure to me and was like a grandfather to my kids. He is actually the Godfather to our grandson. A retired nuclear sub captain, he was an incredible man of faith. John lived his faith every day and so easily shared it with others. He made a difference in the lives of everyone that he touched. The birthday prayer, yes this was just a small way in which he made a difference in the lives of our children, and us.

My uncle was another individual who made a difference in my life. Growing up, he had a pretty wild childhood. He got into trouble, went down some wrong paths, but in the end pulled it all together. He privately spent time each week going to the local prison to work with the inmates there. He wasn’t outwardly religious, but his faith, yes it was incredibly deep. He had a demeanor that was so calming and so gentle, (did I mention he was 6′ 4″). I guess you could say a gentle giant. Another person who made such a difference in the lives he touched, just by his simple actions and his deep-rooted faith.

This morning as I sat down to write this little blog, and was thinking about the birthday prayer from yesterday, I squirreled down the path of thinking about the individuals in my life who have made such a difference. The gift I’ve been given of knowing and loving these people. The blessing of understanding their journeys, seeing their faith in action. It makes me think about what I can do differently in my life to be more like them.

Friends as you start your day, take a moment to think about those who’ve made a difference in your life. What is it that they do or did that sets them apart? Then the next question is, what can we do to be a model like they are or were? I think this is what Father is calling us to do every day, live a life of faith, make a difference in the lives of others, at in the end, share the gift that He gave us, the gift of His Son.

1 John 2:6
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.