“A lady always leaves a place nicer than she found it”. This was one of those things my mother was known to have said; one of those adages that made its way into the core values of my life. I recall my mother saying this to me, and my sisters as we were growing up.  Just the thought of this sweet recollection brings a smile to my face because funny thing, I only seem to remember her saying this when she was wiping down a sink in a public restroom or picking up a piece of litter.

The things taught to me by my mother, modeled and lived out, have made some of the greatest impact on my life. Parents have this impact on their children for good or bad. There are a myriad of influences and role models we encounter in life, most of which we choose for ourselves. How are we doing on being picky? What we are “picking up” from those with whom we are associating?

When we become “convinced” about anything, we build a “conviction” about it. It permeates our thoughts and actions and we live by it. Consider the sources of your convictions.

The Bible tells us that there is a broad spectrum to life with holiness on one end and worldliness on the other. The role models we choose influence us in one direction over the other. Worldliness and holiness are polar opposites. Life is about choices and we make our selections from those we desire to emulate. We have an infinite number of sources before us but which will we “imitate” with our lives? When you have spent time with someone else, afterwards do  you feel that you have been influenced more toward holiness or worldliness? Which role models will direct us toward holiness and to the Holy One?

It makes me think about how grateful I am for the people I know who have left my life a “nicer place than they found it.” There have been so many – some of whom will never even know it.

2 Timothy 3:14, “You however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”