A couple of months ago, my wife Paige and I left my (at that time) five-month-old daughter with my parents as we went on a short trip with some friends of ours. While most couples may be a little nervous to leave their infant child with parents or in-laws, both Paige's mother and my mother are in the category called "Super Mom." Thus, Paige and I are both comfortable with and grateful for God's greatest gift to parents - the grandparents.

When we returned from our trip, I noticed that Emery Anna was so good and so quiet. She had always been a good baby, but this time she didn't seem to make a sound and seemed so content being with my parents. Then, I realized my mother's trick. She had purchased Emery Anna the wonderful $4 device called a pacifier. That was June 23 and since that day, I have officially been a pacifist. Not in a militaristic sort of way, but in a baby sort of way. I may go so far as to say that buying a three-pack of pacifiers at Target for $11.99 may be the greatest purchase I have made in my life.

I tell you this little story to say that I have learned a lot about parenting this year and I look forward to learning more. I can't begin to express how grateful I am for the ministry of my parents and Paige's parents to us as we learn to care for this precious child. I look forward to teaching Emery Anna all that my father and mother taught me. I can't wait to teach her to sing, dance, read, and cheer for Auburn - all things that I learned from my parents. Most importantly though, I can't wait to teach her about her savior, Jesus Christ, and the glory of his gospel. This is the most important thing that my parents ever taught me, and it is the most important thing I will ever teach her.

Even now Paige and I are reading the Bible to Emery Anna, and praying that her soul would be softened to receive the good news of our king.

In Psalm 145:4, the Psalmist said to the Lord, "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." I am grateful to be a part of a legacy of Christians. It is my deepest hope that, by God's grace, this legacy would continue through me to my children, to my children's children and so forth. And to the scores of parents and grandparents that will read this little article, even now as I write I am praying for you.

I pray that you would take this task the Lord has given you seriously, and that you would be faithful to raise disciples and point your children to the Lord. Finally, I pray that God would give us his good grace, for the sake of our children and for the sake of his glory. Amen.

Jason Dees is a grateful follower of Jesus Christ, the husband of Paige and the father of Emery Anna. He is also the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington.