On Customs & Footprints

We were moving to a new city and as expected, we had certain fears associated with moving. One of those fears for us was the impact of a change of environment on our children. At a send forth event organized for us, I had a conversation with an older friend who in my opinion had raised 5 level-headed boys. Her boys are now spread out in different parts of the world chasing their dreams & passions. If you are a parent, you know that raising children is not an easy feat these days. So I asked her how she did it and she had just one advice for me, “I took them to Church every Sunday, no matter where we were, we never missed Church”. “That’s it I asked”, and she answered “Yes!”. In her words, she did that and left them in God’s hands and she believed God did the rest. Of course, there were other things she did in raising her boys but she believe that this was the Foundation she built on.

Recently, we were in another conversation with a few people and we got talking about our current walk with God. One of the guys said that growing up, they never missed Church. It was like a taboo to miss Church on Sundays. After he left home, no matter what he did on Saturdays, not even his late night rendezvous prevented him from going to  Church on Sundays, until he realized that there was more in the Church than in the world. He stayed!

In January this year, the new President of the United States, Joe Biden was sworn into office using the Biden family Bible that had been passed down from generations to generation since the 1890s.

What are the similarities between these three stories? Customs & Footprints. Some people were intentional about leaving customs for the generations after them and though some of the children may have strayed, most wandered back to the customs that were in built and stored somewhere in their hearts. In the Biden story, this is over 100 years of passed down traditions. After reading about this, I have become more intentional about my study Bible, its preservation, my highlights, and how I will pass it down to generations after me.

So, He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and as His custom was, He went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. Luke 4:16

Luke 4:16

I believe this verse was written to show us the importance of creating customs and traditions for generations to follow.

  • It was His custom to go out early to pray.
  • It was His custom to fellowship.
  • It was His custom to do good.
  • It was His custom to do His Father’s will.

Jesus has created customs and if we say we belong to His tribe, these should be our customs and traditions as well.

We are called to follow in this way and show the generations after us the way. But you can only show a way that you have walked in yourself or one that you are willing to walk. One of my favorite Hymns has a line that says “O let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant my own”

The footprints we leave should go beyond taking our children to Church. They should be footprints of Honesty, Integrity, Forgiveness, Love, Joy, Gratitude, Hard-work, Dedication and Service. We may talk about our footprints, but the young ones under us will ‘hear’ what we ‘do’. We are always leaving footprints wherever we go and whether we know it or not, other people are planting their foot in them.

Note to self – Be intentional, walk boldly and let your footprints lead to life.

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6 Comments

  • IRENE J.A. MICHAEL

    Indeed, worth the read. Thanks L&B Fam.

  • Nwachukwu Ugochukwu Godscrown

    Oh lord teach me to order my path that I may be like Abraham who you testified that you know he will order his children to follow your path in Jesus name. Amen

  • Emem Onwudili

    As always, another excellent write-up. Thank you for this reminder. I pray that like Abraham, God will be able to trust me to command my household to keep the way of the Lord and that they will learn from the customs and footprints that I leave in my path. Great job Elder Uko & your Mrs 😁

  • itoro

    This is beautiful. May our lives imitate the customs of Christ and may we deliberately pass these customs to our children and the people we influence around us.

  • Faith Patrick

    Father, help me to make it my custom to do your will in Jesus name. Amen!

  • Affiong John Abakasanga

    Help me Lord to follow your customs and traditions. Jesus, help me to also teach my children your customs and traditions that they may not deviate from it. Show me the ancient paths, lead me along the eternal highway…
    Thank you my Pastors for sharing. God reward your labour of love in Jesus name amen.

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