Fifty Years From Now

Fifty Years from Now

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Proverbs 22:6

One of my treasured possessions is an aged book from 1947 titled Meet the Amish: A Pictorial Study of the Amish People. Looking through it, I’m thrilled to say that not much has changed! When discussing the clothing, the culture, and the beliefs, the basics discussed in 1947 are still the basics today. Here is an example: “Unlike most of the other Pennsylvania Germans, the Amish have no activities which can be classified as folk arts. No attempt may be made to decorate any article with colors, flowers, pictures, or other devices. There are no dances of any sort. Musical instruments are banned, part singing is discouraged, solo singing is unheard of, and only a simple form of group singing, without instrumental accompaniment, is permitted.”

As I read through the pages, one thing is certain: the Amish have done a fine job of passing down their beliefs. They know what matters to them, and they pass it on to the next generation. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, “Watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”

What matters most to you? Jot down your top three values (or three characteristics you would most like your life to display). If you could ensure that fifty years from now your children or grandchildren or others you knew as young people were living by the values and beliefs you had established, what would that look like?

Now look at your life today. How well are you living out these values? More than that, how well are you passing them on—not just to your children but also to others you mentor or those in your church?

There are many good things to build our lives around, but we lose much ground unless we focus on the best things.

Dear heavenly Father, help me to live today in a way that I would be proud to see my children and grandchildren modeling fifty years from now.