A life lived for Christ is the best inheritance we can leave our children.

为基督而活的生命，是留给子女最好的产业。

The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. Proverbs 20:7

行为纯正的义人，他的子孙是有福的！-箴言20章7节

My father once admitted to me, “When you were growing up, I was gone a lot.”

我的父亲曾经带着歉意对我说：“在你成长的过程中，我常常不在家。”

I don’t remember that. Besides working his full-time job, he was gone some evenings to direct choir practice at church, and he occasionally traveled for a week or two with a men’s quartet. But for all the significant (and many small) moments of my life—he was there.

但在我的记忆中，却不是这么回事。我的父亲白天工作，有时晚上会到教会指挥诗班练唱。他偶尔还会离家一、两周，参与男声四重唱的音乐布道。但在我人生中所有重要和许多不大重要的时刻，他都在我身边。

For instance, when I was eight, I had a tiny part in an afternoon play at school. All the mothers came, but only one dad—mine. In many little ways, he has always let my sisters and me know that we are important to him and that he loves us. And seeing him tenderly caring for my mom in the last few years of her life taught me exactly what unselfish love looks like. Dad isn’t perfect, but he’s always been a dad who gives me a good glimpse of my heavenly Father. And ideally, that’s what a Christian dad should do.

比如在我八岁的时候，我在学校举办的一场话剧表演中扮演一个小配角。当时到场观赏的全都是同学们的母亲，只有一位是父亲──那就是我爸爸。在许多小事上，父亲总是让我和姐妹们明白，他很看重我们，也很爱我们。尤其是在母亲过世之前的那几年，看到父亲无微不至地照顾她，更使我们明白什么是无私的爱。我的父亲并非十全十美，但是从他身上，总能让我瞥见天父的美善。在我的心目中，每个基督徒父亲都该是这个样子。

At times earthly fathers disappoint or hurt their children. But our Father in heaven is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Ps. 103:8). When a dad who loves the Lord corrects, comforts, instructs, and provides for the needs of his children, he models for them our perfect Father in heaven.

有时候，地上的父亲会让他们的儿女失望或受伤。但我们天上的父亲“有怜悯，有恩典，不轻易发怒，且有丰盛的慈爱”（诗篇103篇8节） 。当一位爱主的父亲规劝、安慰、教导，并供应子女的需要时，便彰显完美天父的形象。

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness that I can always count on. Please help me to live today in a way that leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness and love.

慈爱的天父，我要感谢祢，

因为祢永远信实，让我可以仰望倚靠。
求祢帮助我行事为人，能留下信实与慈爱的典范。

Proverbs 20:3-7New International Version (NIV)

3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.

4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
    but one who has insight draws them out.

6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?

7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
    blessed are their children after them.

整理：于姊妹