As I look at the descendants on the family tree, a couple lines trace back thousands of years. It's overwhelming, but also eye-opening. All of these names, countries, and dates... And that's all I know. Who were these people? What are their stories? Except the small majority that were more well-known, I probably won't find these answers. I won't know why they left all they knew to emigrate to America. I won't know why they chose to settle where they did. While I can guess that the great-grandfather from the late 1700s named his daughter America for patriotic reasons, I won't ever know the story.
These people are names, dates, and places. Most are forgotten. Many in my line are lost to me as I can't seem to find a trail before just a few generations.
I came across a photo of a grave marker that was simply beautiful. Usley Joseph, her grave marked with the usual name, dates, and places. Her family then honored her with the following sentences: "A wife and mother who instilled the love of God and family in her children. Many descendants became teachers and preachers. We admire and respect her with love."
This was a woman that loved the Lord. I don't know what her favorite song was, if she was rich or poor, or anything really. But I know she loved the Lord because her family stated her influence led many of them to love the Lord.
In a few years, fifty or a hundred, I will probably only be a name with dates. In that same time, chances are that everyone I know will die. All that will be left is what I did on this Earth for the Lord.
What else has eternal consequences? What else matters? It matters, what I believe and how I live. It matters if I disciple my children and others for the glory of the Lord. It matters if I pray for my family. It matters if I pray for lost loved ones. It matters if I instill a love of family in my children.
Our life is but a breathe, a name and a couple dates on a list. It's fascinating to see the lives that came before, to imagine the bravery of pioneers and Pilgrims, to see the link to royalty, to be awed by the link to Biblical legends. However, the majority is lost or unknown people who never ran a car let alone a country. In many cases, even the names are lost, leaving nothing to mark their lives. But God knew who they were. Their lives, as all our lives, were a vapor in the wind. It holds little value on earth, with even the names forgotten. But to God, that person was valuable enough to send His Son to die. To God, His eternal plan was for a line of descendants to come that would hopefully learn and follow His ways, to serve Him alone.
It changes your focus when you realize the enormity of God in our brief lives. Even living 100 years is just a small instant in time compared to eternity. And yet, so many times my line could have ended with a battle, a death, a choice not to produce life. It makes me sad to know that abortion and limiting children is taking away our future generations.
I look at my beautiful seven year old, and cannot imagine the world without her. The fifth daughter in my family, I had thought my family was complete before her. I was wrong. God knew better.
In 100 years, I will probably not be known. My great- great- grandchildren may have my name on a list that looks like this:
Catherine M. --------
Born July 22, ----
Married October 9, 1999 to David J ----
Died --,--,---- (not gonna guess)
Children:
Kimberly, Natasha, Jasmine, Laura, and Megan
My great-great-grandchild can say, "I remember hearing that name." Or, "I met her daughter, my great-grandmother, at Christmas one year." But... I want them to say in heaven, "She really loved Jesus. It's because of her that my grandma was taught to love Jesus, and she taught my mom, who taught me."
What I want Jesus to say is, "Well done, My good and faithful servant."
If one day my life on Earth is lost, like the ancestors in my line that are part of records I can't find, I take comfort in knowing it doesn't matter. My name is in the most important place ever... The Lamb's Book of Life!
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