Giving Thanks–Generation to Generation
By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams
Y’all know that one of my favorite things is genealogy. Finding my ancestors has become not just a hobby, but a life-long quest for my sister and me.
Sis and I talk every day, first thing in the morning, which for us is usually somewhere between eight and nine. I am not an early morning person unless I have to be. Of course, we always talk about our kids and our grandkids, and in her case, her soon-to-be eight great-grands. Wow!
Another thing you know about me is that this November, for the first time, I am participating in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, the object of which is to get fifty-thousand words written—a good start for a novel. I got a bit of a late start, but I’ve managed to have somewhere around forty-thousand words in book two of my Charlotte Graves series, when you add my NaNo words to my already-written words.
But, while I’ve been writing a novel, many of you have been writing about things you are thankful for. I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts. Among those of you doing this is my niece, Shelly Foshee. She is my sister’s daughter-in-love. Shelly is an amazing woman, one whom I wish all of you could know. She is daughter, wife, mother, and now, Nana. Add to those, student, nurse, teacher, mentor, intercessor, prayer-warrior. You get the picture. Busy.
Giving Thanks With Spirit Eyes
Each day this month, Shelly has written beautiful words describing her relationship with one member of her family and telling about that person as she sees them. During our conversation this morning, Sis and I marveled at Shelly’s gift of words, how she described each person in her life as she gives thanks for them. Well, this writer could not have chosen better words, or words even as good as those Shelly used. I can tell you this, she doesn’t see them with mere human eyes, but with Spirit eyes, through Holy Spirit.
As Sis and I discussed this, she relayed to me the story of her and my brother-in-love’s courtship and eventual marriage—one that has lasted almost fifty-eight years. You see, they dated, broke up for a year, then by God-incidence, were brought back together by a friend. When she said that to me, I responded with Jeremiah 29:11—’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ (NASB)
I love those words. This must be my most-quoted scripture. For years I’ve quoted it to my own four sons. As I was talking to Sis and taking a moment to reflect on God’s goodness toward her and her family, I was reminded of this—God knew Sis and Bub, that’s what I call her husband, before they were born. He knew the paths He would have them take.
Even though they broke up, thinking it was the end of their relationship, God knew they would one day be married. He knew about their children, their children’s spouses, their children’s children, and He even knew about those great-grands who call Shelly and her husband, Sister’s son, Nana and PopPop. He even knows the little one, Number Eight, safely tucked inside our hearts, and his Mama’s body. And, He knows future generations for all time.
Genealogy Defined
This, my friends, is genealogy. In my Strong’s Concordance, there are about three columns that speak of generation or generations. In this same book there are at least three pages under family or families. That tells me this is an important concept to God. Think about all the begats in the Old Testament. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give us the genealogy of Jesus. Luke takes us from Jesus all the way back to Jesus’s Father—God (Luke 3:23-38). Genealogy is important. Family is important. Giving thanks for our families is important.
As we enter the season in which we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Christ, let’s take time this next week to give thanks for our families. For the generations who came before us. Who shared the love of Christ with us. If you have family members who haven’t made a decision for Christ, know that I am praying with you for them.
I’m so thankful for my family. For all those who came before me, those whose names I know as well as those I will only know once we meet in Heaven. I’m thankful for my husband, our four sons, our daughter-in-love, our two wonderfully perfect granddaughters. I’m thankful for my sisters, Bobbie, Kay, and Sue and their families.
I’m most thankful for being a part of the Family of God, for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’m thankful for each of you, and I thank you for allowing me to share my life and my family with you. May God pour abundant blessings upon each of you.
Have you begun working on your genealogy? If you need help with that, let me know. I’m not an expert, but I know a thing or two. And, I have people.
TWEETABLE
Hi, I’m Debra
Jesus Follower, wife, BoyMom, DD, author, blogger, musician, southern cook, amateur genealogist, amateur artist, living life with an accent on Southern.
No Comments