Heritage

When Jen was in Montgomery people there would ask her, "Who are your people?"  Meaning, are you from the Jones' here in Montgomery.  I think that it is important to understand our heritage and history for several reasons.  One of which so we don't repeat the same mistakes as our ancestors.  The other, is to gain perspective from them about life and how I fit into it.

A couple of weeks ago I had the great privilege to be with my Great-Grandmother in California.  She is 101 years old.  It has been 27 years since I saw her last.  It was the best 3 hours of my day listening to her tell stories and spending time with her.  I took my computer with me and got to Skype with my family back home and let them "meet" Great-Great-Grandma via the internet.  It was wonderful to watch her interact with my daughters and see them in awe of such an amazing woman.

Jen commented that Grandma kept putting her head on my shoulder and holding my hand the entire time.  It was wonderful to spend time with her.  At one point holding back the tears, my Grandma touched my face and told me that she was proud of the man that I had become.  What a great encouragement.  I never knew how important it was to hear from your family that you had done well until that moment.  It was wonderful to know that someone who has lived so long and seen so much in life was proud of me.

There are so many people who have gone on before us in the Christian life that are watching us and proud of us.  Hebrews 12.1-3 gives us great perspective on this:

Do you see what this mean--all these pioneers who blasted the way, all these veterans cheering us on?  It means we'd better get on with it.  Strip down, start running--and never quit!  No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.  And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls.

Remember those who have lived before you and make them proud.  Remember God, who walked this road ahead of you, and make Him proud.