Happy Monday Friends!
The Gospel of Matthew recounts the genealogy of Jesus: “Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers… and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah… and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah” (Matthew 1, selected verses). My dad’s side of the family is obsessed with genealogy and family history; one of his cousins created a Facebook group for the extended family of their mutual grandparents. At home my walls are marked by copies of family photos depicting weddings, gatherings, and random moments which tell a part of my family’s story.
Family can sometimes be a difficult reality. At best we love and support each other; at worst we can hurt and wound the people who are closest to us. But our family history teaches us where we come from and the people who impacted the people who impact us. Family histories can teach us why our parents and grandparents were and are the people they were/are. They can also help us understand our family traditions or family dysfunction; how our ancestors survived the horrors of the past and how resiliency is indeed generational.
Who is a part of your family and a part of your history? What surprises have you found among your ancestors?
Let us pray: God help us see the legacies that live in our family histories. Show us how our families have been shaped and controlled by their circumstances. Where our families are lacking, give us grace to see beyond outward impressions. Where our families welcome and affirm us, give us wisdom to be thankful for their blessing. And where our families cannot or will not be with us, help us to find our families in other people. We pray this through Jesus, your son, Amen.
Blessings, friends, on your week! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Faithfully,
Ben
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