CWO - In Other Words

“I thought about the whole notion of "reproduction," and what it really means to replicate yourself. Is it merely about the passing on of eyes and chins and hair color? Or is it, rather, the replication of the heart? Do we leave a bigger mark by passing on our genes, or our thoughts?”~ Shannon Woodward ~ author of: Inconceivable: Finding Peace in the Midst of Infertility

I admit that when I first read today's quote I thought about not participating this week. I mean at this point in my life (the point where I'm not married) I'm not really thinking about children and passing things onto them. But the end of the quote got to me. The part where it says, "Do we leave a bigger mark by passing on our genes, or our thoughts?"

I think that passing on thoughts is definitely the bigger part. I mean I look like my mom and dad both a little. More my dad I guess. And through his genes I believe I got chiari malformation, since he has the same thing, but my dark hair, dark eyes, long eyelashes, and short body are not what really makes "ME."

What makes me are the things I believe. And the things I believe I learned from my parents. They shared their thoughts about God with me from the time I was born. The told me about Jesus and how He died for me on the cross. They told me that He would forgive my sins if I would ask Him for forgiveness. They were a very instrumental part in my salvation. They laid a strong foundation for Christ in my life.

Many times I look around me, and I wonder why I am so blessed. Why am I the one who got placed in a good, Christian home? Why wasn't I born in a war-torn country where people are killed for believing in Jesus? Why wasn't I raised to believe that killing Christians was a good thing? I honestly don't know why God blessed me to be in the home that I'm in, but I thank Him for it everyday.

So as I look at this quote, and I think back on what my parents have taught me, I want to be the same kind of example. Hopefully one day to children of my own. But right now I can share my thoughts with the children I teach in youth or with the people that I work with everyday. Whether they want to accept them or not, my thoughts for Christ will affect everyone I'm around. I just want to be willing to share them at all times in love.

I read this verse this morning, and I think it goes with today's quote.

I Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

I should always be ready to share my thoughts about Christ with anyone I meet. It is not just by passing on my genes that I will make a difference. The words I say for Christ can affect countless lives along the way. Because those words may affect what others think of Him.

I'll leave you today with a song that I wrote for my parents back on their 30th wedding anniversary. You can hear it here. In the player box, just select "The Cross in Your Eyes." Here are the words:

You've told me about Jesus since I was a baby in your arms. You told me how He bled on Calvary. As I grew older, I came to recognize my need for salvation through the cross in your eyes.

I saw love and compassion, I saw your hurt and pain. I saw so many emotions as my life you tried to shape. Of all the things I saw there, I'm glad I recognized. The light of the cross that I saw in your eyes.

Now I am dreaming of children of my own, I want to show the cross you showed to me. And as they grow older, I pray they'll recognize, their need for salvation, through the cross that I saw in your eyes.

I saw love and compassion, I saw your hurt and pain. I saw so many emotions as my life you tried to shape. Of all the things I saw there, I'm glad I recognized. The light of the cross that I saw in your eyes.