For Generations to Come
This morning, I headed to Spartanburg, my hometown, to visit my great-aunt Helen. (Sister to my grandmother who passed away in December) When asked if I would like to look at some pictures, I said sure! I was expecting the “norm” — pictures of our immediate family, cousins and aunts. Instead, to my surprise, she pulled out pictures of great-grandparents and even great-great-grandparents I had never known or seen. This was an unexpected blessing as I had understood the family pictures to have been burned in a house fire many years ago. With each picture, came a story. I plan to go back and record those stories next time.
For some reason, the older I get the more interested I become in my family genealogy. Who were they? What was their passion in life? Did they have a vibrant relationship with the Lord? Did they ever think of the generations that were to come?
On my way home, I listened to one of my favorite CD’s, Sara Groves’ Conversations. There’s a song called “Generations” that literally brings tears to my eyes every single time I hear it. In the song she recounts the effect that Eve’s decision has on us and how that applies to us today. Here’s the chorus and bridge:
Remind me of this with every decision,
generations will reap what I sow.
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know
To my great, great, great granddaughter:
Live in peace
To my great, great, great grandson:
Live in peace
Beautiful song. So why the tears? First, out of an overflow of gratitude for God’s grace. Secondly, because I do try to think about how my decisions today WILL affect the generations that I will never meet on this side of heaven.
As some of you may know, I’ve kept a journal for over 15 years. In it I record “my” victories as well as my many defeats; prayers for my husband, boys, future (and now present!) daughter-in-laws. I also pray for the generations to come. You see, I want my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren to know, without a doubt, that they were on my mind… and especially in my prayers, confident of God’s faithfulness throughout generations.
Psalm 89:1
