Mothers of the Bible — Lois and Eunice

[Paul to Timothy] I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
2 Timothy 1:5

Dear God, when I sat down to start praying to you about these two faithful women this morning (Timothy’s grandmother and mother, respectively), I thought of the song “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman.

“Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman

I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
And you could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all the who’s-who’s and so-and-so’s
That used to be the best at such and such,
It wouldn’t matter much.
I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights,
We all need an ‘Atta boy’ or ‘Atta girl’
But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world.

I want to leave a legacy,
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such
Will soon enough destroy.

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

Not well-traveled, not well-read
Not well-to-do, or well-bred.
Just want to hear instead,
Well done, good and faithful one

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriter: James Newton Howard

I like how this song begins and ends with the same line: “I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me.” I look at faithful women like Lois and Eunice, and I’m sure they liked a good compliment as much as the next person. I certainly like compliments. But what is it that we remember about them 2,000 years later? And even if we didn’t rememer them by name, what is the legacy they left? In fact, Eunice married a gentile. How did Lois feel about that at the time? Was this a rebellious phase for Eunice? But then her faith apparently became very important to her at some point because we can see it in how she raised Timothy.

Being a person of faith is about just showing up and being faithful over and over again. Loving you over and over again. Loving our spouses. Loving our children. Loving our neighbors. Then that legacy might not get attached to my name or my photograph, but it will ripple through time. Father, help me to be that person today.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 

Emails to God – Submitting to Scripture (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Dear God, this is my first “email” to you in several days. Where has my head been? What has made me so buy that I couldn’t stop to do this? Sure, I traveled quite a bit (900 miles in 8 days), but I had time to do other things that I wanted to do. Why didn’t I discipline myself to stop and meditate on scripture? I have no good excuse. I am simply sorry.

I suppose this “verse of the day” from Bible Gateway is appropriate because it reminds me that I need to be mindful of scripture in my life. Each day’s reading almost always has something to say to me about how I can align myself more rightly with you. I’m not talking about being aligned through your grace, but aligned through my own thoughts.

Father, the first person scripture needs to be about teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness is me. Yes, I can use it to encourage and teach others, but only after I have submitted to its wisdom and authority myself. So here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you’re my God. You’re altogether lovely. Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful to me.