Being a grandma with white/gray hair was the topic of my personal blog this week. Recently, my five-year-old grandson was overheard telling his little friend, “My da-ma’s hair is all white and she not even dead.” I suddenly felt I had accomplished something great – Staying Alive! (If you are reading this and you instantly want to dance under a disco ball, I get it. l love the Bee Gees too.) The fact that he is talking about his “da-ma” with his friends makes me adore him even more. It made me feel important, getting a mention in his little guy’s world. As I finished that blog, I felt like I wanted to continue on this topic for our church blog this week.

For some time now, I have been reading about Benianiah. I am obsessed with his story, even though he only has a few mentions in Scripture. He was one of David’s right-hand men, a warrior assigned to the protection detail. You know, the ones with an ear bud and a squiggly wire behind their ear (as you can see, this paraphrase is super historically accurate). He earned this honor because of his fearlessness early on in his story. What’s he known for? He chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day.

Time out. Who chases a LION?!? WHO?!? Ok. Time in…

I recently found mention of him in another place in the Bible as he was the grandfather of a prophet I read about. Ok, great. He’s a grandpa. What’s the big deal? Well it’s a big deal because this prophetic grandson showed leadership, courage, and fearlessness in a different setting, but very much like his grandpa before him.

Since the Bible was meant to help us live our lives in a way that honors God, even thousands of years later, Benianiah’s legacy story made me think about my influence with my grandchildren. What does my life teach? Am I a fearless, courageous, infectious leader? I want them to remember more than my white hair or my wrinkles when I am gone. My desire is they have a little part of me inside of them – the part that makes them strong, but dependant on the Lord.

As much as I want to be a wonderful grandma, it pales in comparison to my desire to leave a Christian legacy for all those who come after me. I want to be famous for loving and living like Jesus. I want my gray & white hair to stand out, because I am not dead. I am alive through Christ.

Does my life shine with that reality as if I am dancing under a sparkling disco ball? I often worry that I can be found wildly spinning, but not shining!  I should be the belle of the ball with the light of Christ illuminating my life, drawing the attention of others to my dance partner (Jesus).

Church, lets make Jesus known. Let all those around us be drawn to what makes us truly alive. It won’t just magically happen like it does in the fairy tales. It will take dedication, discipline, and time spent with our Lord as he transforms us. When we spend time in His presence, His joy is on our faces resulting in a brilliant light that illuminates the darkness!

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
JOHN 8:12

SHERRIE SMITLEY |  Wife. Mom. Sister. Friend. Follower of Jesus.