It is not much to look at. It sits in my office and holds our scrapbooks and other “treasurers” that we have accumulated. The handles are broken and there is duct tape on it. You might shake your head and wonder why I even have it. My dad’s foot locker that followed him on all his World War II adventures is one of my greatest treasures. My dad passed it down to me, and I in turn will pass it on to our kids. 

Another treasure that my dad passed on to me is his name. When my folks started their family, they made a deal. My mom would name all the boys and my dad would name all the girls. Three girls and no boys were born into their family. As I was the last chance at the boy, my dad gave me his name. I am Peggy Jon. I wear that middle name so proudly, what a gift he gave to me.

Sometimes we pass on things that we would just as soon not. Our family has macular degeneration, heart disease, and several auto immune diseases to just name a few.  We pass on hair color, eye color, and every other characteristic we have. They flow through the generations like hot fudge sauce being poured on ice cream. 

I have things that I desperately want to pass on to our kids, granddaughters and future generations, and the most important is my faith. I want my family to know the great love and saving grace of Jesus. I want them to know that life is extremely hard, but God is extremely good. I want them to know. I want the baton of faith to each generation until Jesus comes. 

Our son ran track in high school. He was on several relay teams. These boys were fast. They practiced and practiced and the day of the state meet finally arrived. They flew like the wind, and then the unimaginable happened, the baton was dropped. I don’t want to be the one that drops the baton of faith in our family, I want them to know.

To pass it, you have to have it.  We have the choice to pass on great treasure, or our grumbling, and opinions, and our discontent for life.  We have the choice to pass it on, and they have the choice to take it.

 I can pass the baton, I can speak and sing of the glories of what a mighty God we serve, but I can’t save anyone of them. That’s God’s job. Do you have family members that you pray will find Jesus? Keep praying. Tell them your story and what God has done in your life. You do your part and stand back and watch God do his.

Proverbs 15:6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.