Family Tree

My dad’s side of the family keeps an on-going chain letter, which my parents are faithful to — receiving it, reading it, and adding their latest news.

Then they send it on and wait.

From it, they learn so much about family members spread coast to coast — in shared blessings, as well as hardships.

A couple days ago, Richard got me thinking about my “begattitude” — particularly about my family tree…

All those ancestral roots. All those branches.

And in yesterday’s reading, it hit me — as a part of a family, I share (and bear) both my family’s blessings and — YES — the curse of sin, too.

We read much in God’s Word about fathers blessing their children, as Abraham and Isaac did for their sons — though, due to sin, perhaps not always in God’s best order (Gen. 27).

But we also read that there were generational sins passed down — particularly from Abraham to Isaac. Abraham lied to Abimelech about Sarah, and Isaac did the same regarding Rebekah (Gen. 20 and 26).

Both sinned due to fear and for self-preservation. Thus, this ‘sin-curse’ was passed from father to son.

And the curse of sin passes from our fathers and mothers to us, as well. And from us to our children.

Still, despite sin, God’s covenant remains. His promises stand true, despite the curse of generational sin.

Yes, His love NEVER fails.

As my parents read and then write as a part of our family’s chain letter, their ancestral love grows. They bear one another’s burdens in prayer and share in one another’s joys through praise.

I remembered recently that, when I was young, my grandparents had a picture in their home depicting a row of barren trees standing with branches intertwined and raised high, as in praise — black against the setting sun. The quote:

“A tree at dusk whispers love from every branch.”

As a part of God’s family tree, we proclaim to the world — in both shouts AND whispers — His great love. We praise Him for His faithfulness — despite our sin — passed down to ALL generations.

How are YOU proclaiming His love — to your earthly family, as well as to the family of mankind?

“… become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world…” (Phil. 2:15)