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| Christmas 2012 Those standing from left: Katie(holding David), Mom, Me, Papa, Neecie(my mom's mom), Ethan, Tori, and Daniel. Those sitting from left: Jonathan, Caleb, Adon, Ava, Shelli, Ace, Michael, Becky, and Kezley |
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| Christmas 2006 I think : Becky, Shelli (pregnant with Ace), Me, Katie, Ethan. |
A few weeks ago, I talked about friends and how to be a good friend. Today it's on my heart to talk about family.
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| the original Leggett girls November 2011 from left: Katie, Me, Mom, Becky, and Shelli |
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| Becky and I at an Avril Lavgine concert '08 or '09 I would guess |
If you've been following me for awhile you should know how much family means to me (if you don't.. well I've failed to share my heart). Friends are great, but sometimes I just need my family. Your family members are some of the most important people to win over to Christ, but they can be the hardest simply because not only do they see you at your best, but also at your worst.
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| Mom's girls November 2011 from left: Ava, Shelli, Katie(Caleb hiding at her legs), Becky (pregnant with Kezley), Mom, Tori, and I. |
Some of y'all know that my dad is not saved. Being a Christian teenager, it's hard to be a good influence to change what my dad believes, to show him what a blessing God is in my life. You see, papa sees it when I have a bad attitude. He sees it when I disrespect him or my mom. He knows about the mistakes I made with Micah. So knowing all that clouds all the good stuff I do. I don't think that most non-Christians realize this, but being a Christian doesn't make us perfect. It means we admit our imperfection, and are giving our lives to God, but inevitably we will still stumble.
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| Thanksgiving 2011 standing from left: Ethan, Michael, Shelli, Daniel, Becky (pregnant with Kezley), and Jonathan. Sitting from left: Tori, Neecie, mom, Ava, Ace, Papa, Adon, Caleb, Me, Katie, and David. |
Y'all as a Christian it's always important to live your life seeking His face, but it's so much more important when a family member is lost. I get that it's not easy. You work hard at focusing on God in public that you want a break at home, but here's the thing, the more you run after God, the more His ways become your ways. I don't know about you, but it's my ultimate desire for people to look at me and see Him. I desire for love and compassion to shine through me.
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| Ethan and Tori's rehearsal diner January 2011 from left: Me, Emily (my cousin from Iowa), Katie (holding Caleb), Aunt Bonnie (mom's sister who lives in California), and Becky |
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| me, Katie, Becky, and Ethan |
I'm a work-in-progress, Y'all. I don't have it all figured out. God is continuously molding my heart. Softening it to hurting people. He teaches me every day, and I will be learning until the day I die.
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| Summer 2010 in California : Mom, Me, and Becky |
My dad isn't the only lost person in my family. There are others that I know don't follow God , or that I really have no idea where they stand spiritually. That breaks my heart. It would break my heart even more, if my life were a reason that they didn't follow Christ.
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| 2009 I believe standing: Katie (holding Caleb), Jonathan, Becky, Daniel, Michael, Shelli(holding Ace), Adon. Sitting: Neecie, Ethan, me, Papa, and Mom (holding Ava) |
Be a walking witness to your family. It will improve your relationships, and honestly, aside from the one with God, those are the most important and precious relationships that you will ever have the opportunity to have.
Shalom
I love this post! :D Families are so great, and interesting. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have the shirt you're wearing at Ethan and Tori's rehearsal dinner XD
~Stephanie
Yes they are :).
DeleteHaha what a small world!
Such beautiful pictures! Family is wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about your Dad. My Mom was saved so I know where she is. But Kate (my "legal guardian" you could say) has a sister that isn't saved. It's really hard to speak on behalf of God when I'm not even brave enough to go to a dance. The fact that I have trouble witnessing makes her think that I either have no idea what I'm talking about, or that I only "believe" in Jesus because Kate does. She just doesn't know the real reason I don't run around the local grocery store leading a revival.
And, of course, being a teenager, there are things we say that we regret. This is no help.
BUT... no one can be perfect but Him. We'll make mistakes. But we do what we can otherwise to lead the lost and blind to Him. We can't change their hearts; that's God's job.
"Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants." 2 Timothy 2:25-26 NLT
Jesus loves you!!
Witnessing is never easy, family or those close to us just make it harder. Something that I've learned over the years is that even if your shy, God had ingrained a boldness in you. You just have to step out into faith and believe He won't let you down.
DeleteThank you for the encouragement, Jesus loves you too :)