Pass It Down
by Shelly Radic

My daughter’s middle name is Anne. So is mine. And my mom’s middle name, you guessed it, is Anne. Grandma is Anna and great-grandma is Annie. In my family, the name Anne is passed down to the eldest daughter.

All families pass things down, such as traditions and “momisms.” Unlike the Anne name in our family, we’ve passed down this “momism” to all of our children: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Repeatedly passed it down.

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul shares about something that Timothy’s grandmother and mom passed down to him. Paul writes, “I have been 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.”

Sincere faith tops my list of things to pass down to my children. Sharing faith with our kids through words and actions is important; more people become followers of Jesus during childhood than any other time in life. But unlike a family name, faith doesn’t stick just because we talk about or even live it out on a daily basis. It’s something each of our children must choose themselves. So every day I also ask God to guide my children to him, to help them love him with all their heart, soul, strength and mind.

Sincere faith. Like Lois and Eunice, let’s pass it down to our children every day. Through our words, actions and our prayers.

Shelly Radic is Interim CEO of MOPS International and Author of Momology