By Robin Stokes

That day, a host of people flowed with grace and accuracy throughout the crowded marketplace, shifting as currents in a river, to and from various vendors who sold fragrant and colorful produce.

Amid the heads and shoulders, was one brief opening. This slight gap seemed to move rhythmically with the crowd. Intrigued, I moved closer to discover its cause. Looking down, I observed a little boy, about three years old, with his eyes intently on the blue denim pant leg directly in front of him. While trying to retain my place in the multitude, I watched him take quick glances to his side. On one of those occasions, his eyes met mine, and then promptly returned to the leg ahead of him.

It didn’t take much to see that this small boy closely resembled, in facial design and color, the woman that he closely patterned in movement and pace. She was most assuredly his mother. Perhaps he followed because she said, “Follow me.” or “Stay right behind me.” Maybe he just knew what to do because he did it that way every week. Nonetheless, he followed the leg he saw before him.

If I could have asked him, in that moment of time, how he knew who to follow, I expect he would have simply replied, “I follow the leg I see.”

My eyes were momentarily diverted by the changing movement of those around me and by my own pondering thoughts of this small child’s chosen path. Then suddenly, I felt a tight grip around my leg. Looking down, I saw him. His head lifted upward; his eyes caught mine. His expression was that of assured relief, immediately followed by a tilted-head and wrinkled-brow look of confusion, and then a whirling-eyed, rotating-head look of panic. When he spotted his target, he let loose his firm hold of me, and ran quickly to his mother’s blue, denim-clad leg. Grasping it tightly, he adjusted to her pace. She gently placed her hand on his head, rubbing it assuredly. And the boy let loose, continuing to follow his guide.

Once more his eyes returned to mine. They seemed to say, “I’m okay now. I’m where I should be, following the leg I see.”

The leg I see? The leg I see? Legacy! A bequest, an inheritance, handed down or a custom, a tradition, a practice, to follow.

We’ve been given a legacy, handed down from Jesus – prayer. Jesus’ prayer times are noted throughout the gospels. His prayer for us is recorded in the book of John. (John 17) Jesus’ disciples observed His necessary and beneficial prayer routine and in response asked Him, “Teach us to pray.” He gave them, and those of us who follow after them, an example -- “The Lord’s Prayer.” (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4)

Will we follow this legacy we’ve received? Will we leave behind our own legacy of prayer?

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