I’d been speaking at a retreat in Arkansas, and I had some time alone. The staff had decided to give everyone the afternoon to process what had already been said before we gathered again. A walk sounded like a great idea to me, so I headed out on a familiar path that led down to an old stream near the center. As I walked, I watched my path for crosses, and hearts. It’s something I love to do. I like to find them hidden in the beauty of nature, in leaves, clouds, rocks, etc. I see crosses and hearts all around me. I wrote about that here. https://rockingitgrand.com/hearts-all-around/

But, back to the retreat. I’d been on the lookout for a little physical memento from the weekend when I, rather unconsciously, began to pick up sticks and form them into little hearts and crosses at my feet, even as a prayer formed on my lips.

“Father God, I don’t have to see a heart or a cross,” I said aloud. “I don’t really need physical evidence to know that You have been with us, and You will go with us from here.”

And just like that I saw the beautiful irony between what I was doing and what I was praying. Someone else would find the crosses I’d been forming with sticks from the roadside brush. Someone else would have their thoughts turned to God because I had traveled this way. And isn’t that what we want? For our lives to leave evidence of God to those who walked with us, and for those who will come behind us?

According to the Bible, it’s not only possible, it’s what we’re called to do. The imprint of Christ on our lives is meant to reveal Him to others. And not just any “others”. You and I have the great privilege of doing this for our beloved grandchildren!

Would you join me as I make that a prayer? “Father God, stir in us an ever increasing hunger for You, for Your Word, and for Your Presence, that we might be living examples for our families of the joy found in walking and talking with You in this world. Amen!”