One Christmas, when the kids were small, I had them in Sears for their annual torture – family pictures.  I came out satisfied with only one pose and was lamenting to the photographer – and apologizing for my kids’ inability to sit still.  She told me of a lady that had her daughter’s pictures done the day before.  Apparently, she was at that lovely stage of toddlerhood where tantrums prevail.  Every photo showed her daughter shrieking with a bright red face and her eyes closed.  The photographer was about to encourage the mother to come at another time when she spoke up and said ‘that one will do’.  She then went on to explain that the picture was going to go out in the Christmas cards because it was an appropriate snapshot of what their year had been like.  I thought that mom to be very brave, as I would prefer to let others think that my family is perfect, or at least somewhat average.

It made me think about how others picture my life.  What am I known for and how would I be remembered?  Would people know that I am a follower of Christ and does my life reflect that?  Am I known for my generosity and compassion?  Would others think that I spend my time in this world wisely or did I waste the days and hours that God gave me?  Would I leave a legacy for my children and my children’s children?  I also got to thinking:  how would God summarize my life?  I love how King Josiah’s life was summarized in 2 Kings 22:2 “(Josiah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.”  I hope when my life is condensed into one short synopsis – one brief sentence – it would be said of me “she did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”.