“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  a time to be born and a time to die.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

I remember walking out of the hospital the day my father died. My mother held my arm as we slowly made our way toward the parking lot. We were a family in grief. I couldn’t help thinking that at the same time, in this same hospital, there were families celebrating the birth of a new baby.  That’s the way life works on this side of heaven. One family mourns the passing of a loved one while another family rejoices at the arrival of a newborn. There is indeed a time to be born and a time to die.

That gives us a generational responsibility to teach God’s love and God’s ways to those who follow us. As Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Psalm 103:17-18 says, “from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

Psalm 78:5b-7 says, “he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”

I’m grateful to my parents for modeling the importance of those who are mature in the faith guiding those who are young in the faith, and those who are wise mentoring the up and coming.

Are you learning from your elders in the faith and encouraging the next generation that follows you? Think and pray about your generational responsibility and act accordingly.