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My family has been prodding and encouraging me to
organize the genealogical information about our family. I now have an
eight-foot folding table in my computer room to use instead of placing
items on the steps and in the floor.
I was working on portraits and photos this past
month. We would lay out images of long ago ancestors and play “Mr.
Potato Head.” Who has Great-Grandpa Joe’s twinkling eyes, Grandma Lucy’s
hugs, Great-Grandpa Will’s bushy eyebrows, Grandpa George’s long narrow
feet, or Carl’s blue eyes? There were several combinations of features
showing up in the younger generations.
My eyes went from face to face, and a thought came
to me. I knew God’s love because of what they taught me. Joe’s love of
life, Lucy’s excitement over grandchildren, Will’s adventurous spirit,
George’s quiet example of a Christ-filled life, and Carl’s patriotism.
Thank you, thank you, I said to myself. I am
grateful for my Godly heritage. I asked forgiveness for taking this
heritage for granted, but for now, what am I doing to further this
heritage?
I can’t just sit here and talk about these gifts. I
must make sure their heritage is not destroyed by complacency and
ignorance. I pray that some day my descendants will thank me for passing
the gifts to them--gifts from the past to be used in their future.
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