They’re always with me. Every day, when I walk out the door, these five things go with me—my watch, my ring, my coin, my chain, my arm ring. They’re just part of my routine, part of what I carry literally without even thinking about it.

But tonight, as I got home, emptied my pockets, and took them off to unwind, I started thinking about why I carry these things…

Because one day, my kids won’t just see these as objects; they’ll see them as pieces of my life.

After all, they’ve grown up with them—held them, played with them, rolled them across the dinner table, worn them on their tiny wrists, and even teethed on them as babies (the arm ring is a perfect teething ring, by the way).

They’ve flipped the coin in a game of heads or tails, spun my wedding ring between their fingers, and strapped my watch onto their arms, pretending to be just like Dad. (—they’re always stealing my watches. Grrrr…)

These things are as familiar to them as they are to me. And that’s why I want to write this down—not just so they’ll remember what I carried, but so they’ll know why I carried them.

And as I did, I realized there’s more here than just personal significance. These items carry lessons, reminders, and values worth sharing.

So tomorrow night, I’m going to sit down with my kids and talk about it.

But before I do, I figured I’d share it with you. Because value isn’t just about what something is made of—it’s about what it represents, what it reminds us of, and what we choose to do with it.

So here’s what I carry, and here’s what it means… to me.

We all have those things we carry—those little items that feel like an extension of who we are.

But the real question is: Do they mean something, or are they just extra weight?

1. The Coin – Generational Impact

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” – Proverbs 13:22

“But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” – Exodus 20:6

This coin is 100 years older than me. It was minted in 1888. A whole century. That means long before I was even a thought, this coin had value.

But here’s the thing—its worth isn’t just in what it is, but in what is done with it. And that’s how life works.

This coin has outlived generations before me, and it’ll outlive me too. That’s how legacy works. What I do today will shape the lives of my kids, their kids, and the generations after them.

Studies show that the choices we make—how we live, how we lead, how we love—ripple into four or five generations beyond us.

--Faith & Church Attendance – If parents consistently follow Jesus, there’s a 75% chance their children will remain in the faith. But if only one parent does, that drops to 50%. If neither does, it plummets to 25% or less.

--Marriage & Family Stability – Divorce in one generation increases the likelihood of divorce in the next by 50%, but a strong, loving marriage sets a precedent for commitment and stability for decades.

--Money & Stewardship – Families that model wise financial habits, generosity, and discipline build generational wealth, while poor financial decisions leave cycles of struggle for the next generation. BTW Stewardship STARTS with keeping God first in your finances!

--Character & Integrity – Children don’t just listen to what we say—they model who we are. BOOM

We are building something that lasts beyond us.

The question isn’t just, “What do I have?” It’s, “What am I doing with what I have for Jesus?”

2. The Wedding Ring – Covenant and My HOT Wife, Cara

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Matthew 19:6

I don’t leave the house without my wedding ring, because I don’t do life without my SMOKIN’ HOT wife.

This ring isn’t just a piece of metal—it’s a daily reminder of the covenant I made to Cara.

It’s a symbol that love isn’t just an emotion; it’s a choice.

A daily, intentional, sometimes sacrificial choice.

Marriage isn’t built in the big moments—it’s built in the everyday. In the way we honor, protect, and serve one another. In the way we fight for each other, not against each other. In the way we choose love, even when it’s not easy.

3. The Watch – Time, Systems, and Movement

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…” – Ephesians 5:15-16

I love an automatic movement mechanical watch—one that only runs as long as it’s being worn and wound. It doesn’t need a battery; it just needs movement.

That’s exactly how community works. That’s how faith works. That's how a growing Church works!!!

That’s how anything worth having works. You stop moving, stop showing up, stop investing?

It dies.

But if you stay engaged, keep it moving, it keeps running. Churches, relationships, callings—they all take consistency and care.

Time is a gift. But what we do with it? That’s what really matters.

4. The Chain – A Gift and a Reminder of Generosity

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9

This chain was a gift from Cara, but it’s also a reminder of something bigger.

I didn’t get here alone. You didn’t either. None of us do.

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, on the prayers of our parents, the generosity of mentors, the kindness of strangers.

Every opportunity, every breakthrough—it’s because of the people God placed around us.

The moment you start thinking, “I did this all on my own,” is the moment PRIDE starts cutting off your blessings.

5. The Arm Ring – Honor and Character

“It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” – Ecclesiastes 5:5 (WOAH. THAT’S HEAVY.)

Warriors didn’t just wear arm rings as decoration—they were earned.

They were a symbol of loyalty, commitment, and being bound by your word. And that matters.

In a world where people make promises they don’t keep, where words are thrown around like they mean nothing, I believe integrity stands out.

I want my life to reflect that. If I say I’m going to do something, I do it.

If I commit, I follow through.

Because who you are when nobody’s watching—that’s who you really are.

I carry these five things every day, and every day, they remind me of what really matters.

It’s not about the items—it’s about what they represent.

The question isn’t just “What’s in your pocket?”

It’s, “What are you carrying in your heart?”

So, what are you carrying today? And more importantly—what does it mean?

Now, what are you passing down?

—PZ