I love Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "A Psalm of Life." One of the lines says: "Footprints
on the sands of time." Perhaps I should put it in context for you:
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
We do not live our lives unto ourselves. Every moment and every day we leave footprints for others to follow. This particularly applies to us as mothers. Our children learn how to walk with God and in holiness as they watch our lives. They learn far more by watching us than from what we tell them.
Revelation 14:13 tells that those who die in Christ "rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Your mothering work never ends. Sometimes you feel so tried and worn out. But it won't be forever. Your little children grow and life becomes easier. Even when another baby comes into the family, there are now older children to help. But there also comes a day when you will rest from all your labors. And more than that, your works will follow you. They follow you into the eternal kingdom to be judged or rewarded on Judgment Day.
They also follow you after you have gone. Your life keeps influencing your children's lives even when you leave this earth. Your powerful influence as a mother affects not only your children, but your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and generations to follow.
May we leave clear footprints for our children to follow. May we keep pressing on the upward way until the day we go to be with the Lord. How can others follow if we stop before the finishing line?
God bless you today, Nancy Campbell