Handing Down Your Faith

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:5-9 ESV)

What does it look like to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might?

I don’t have all the answers to that question, but over the years, I’ve learned a little about genuine love for God. I didn’t learn it in Bible study or at a women’s conference. Not even in church on Sundays.

I discovered most of what I know about authentic Christian living at the dining room table and the kitchen sink.

My own parents died before my own season of motherhood humbled me and showed me I had a lot to learn. So I looked to my in-laws for wisdom, strength, and a sense of stability.

When my children were young, we often spent holidays at my in-laws’ in the mountains. Between helpings of turkey and gravy, sweet potato souffle, and Jell-O salad, we passed around a fair amount of friendly banter. My in-laws shared humorous family anecdotes and told stories that pointed to God’s faithfulness. My father-in-law, who had a doctorate in chemical engineering, also had a seminary degree, so a little theology was tossed into the mix.

When we finally got up from the table and stacked the dishes, it was time for cleanup.

Dishwashing duty provided opportunities for deep conversation. At the kitchen sink, my mother-in-law handed over more than just a dish towel. She passed down her faith from one generation to the next.

Over many sinks of soapy dishes, I poured out my heart and admitted my insecurities. We talked about marriage and motherhood, recipes and relationships. My mother-in-law never preached, but as she shared her heart, and as I observed how she lived her life, I learned a few things.

Laugh a lot.

Never give up.

Don’t offer unwanted advice. (She never did that with me.)

When you talk to someone, treat them as if they’re the most important person on earth.

Don’t miss an opportunity to tell someone they’re doing a good job.

You’re never too old to start something new.

And probably the most important lesson: God is good.

Even now, when I call her on the phone, no matter what’s going on, she says, “God is good.” Sometimes circumstances don’t seem so good, like when she was recovering from a broken hip or a shoulder replacement, or when the pandemic prevented her from playing her cello in church. But if she begins to complain, she stops herself and begins talking instead about all the ways God continues to bless her in spite of setbacks.

Faith isn’t transferred in mini sermons or holy lectures. It’s modeled when we comment on the wonders of creation, when we tell about an answered prayer, and when we mention God’s involvement in the normal routines and grand events of life.

Faith can’t be faked. To be genuine, it has to flow from a heart so full to the top with God that it spills over on everyone nearby.

Faith is passed down when God’s name is so much on our minds that it flows out in our conversation. Not just in conversation with Bible study friends. Not just in “holy” words used to impress the pastor and church friends. When our hearts are filled with love for the Lord, it’s only natural to talk about him.

I’ve seen that life lived before me, and I want to follow that example. I’m learning to give praise in the midst of pain and to talk about Jesus even with those who might ridicule or misunderstand.

How about you? What lessons are you sharing at the dining room table?

Who is learning at your kitchen sink?

Father, help me consistently fill my spiritual plate by praying, reading the Bible, and listening to worship music. Fill my cup with your love so I can pass a healthy serving to friends and family at my dinner table. Show me how to hand off my faith to the young person helping with the dishes. Let my enthusiasm for Jesus rub off on everyone I touch. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Tim. 1:5 NIV)

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:2 NIV)

Reach for More

Do you have a spiritual mentor, someone who models what it means to love the Lord with heart, soul, and might? Think about specific ways your mentor shares her faith in the course of everyday life. If you don’t have a mentor, consider who might become one. Can you foster a relationship with her?

Be alert to someone at your dinner table or kitchen sink who needs a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness.

Margaret Kemp spends most days teaching a classroom full of lively five-and six-year-olds. She’s attracted to be fragrance of vanilla, the printed word, and all things blue and white. She delights in spending time with her husband and family, singing praises with her church choir peeps, and traveling. Her heart’s desire is to know God better and learn to trust him more.

Photograph © Hannah Busing, used with permission