Proverbs 4:18 – The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Consider this verse in describing the trail we leave behind us rather than the path in front of us.  The life we live.  The lives we touch.  The love we share – the way we love the Lord and one another.  The way we serve.  The “fruit” that we leave behind us, i.e., our testimony in the eyes of those we’ve encountered and touched – whether good or bad.

I think of deer trails that I have seen out in the woods.  Some are so faint as to be easily missed.  Others are more obvious to the eye.  I remember one that looked like a deer
Interstate.  Anyone could tell that it was a significant trail.  The trails were evidence of activity and the presence of deer.

Likewise, the “trail” or path we leave behind us is a legacy to who we are – and how much we truly love Jesus.  The more we walk in the ways of the Lord the brighter our path becomes.  The more we love and serve and bear the fruit of the Spirit – the more we reflect Him.  The path we leave is to be about Jesus.   The wonder it is to be His hands extended – for others to see and encounter Him when they interact with us.

Our path is our testimony, but not in our words.  It is where we’ve been and what we’ve done as described by others and witnessed by those around us – both on earth and in the heavenlies.  The more we are transformed into the image of Jesus, the brighter it becomes.