Recently I have been poring over old family photos in boxes that haven’t been looked at in many years. With a little extra time on my hands these days, I thought it was about time to take those pictures and place them in photo albums for easier access. As I was going through them I found numerous “old black and white” photos that were unfortunately not labelled and I wasn’t sure who they were. Everyone who would have known their identities has since passed away. Some of the photographs are so fragile they are worn and slightly ripped. As I looked at them and stared into their eyes I was asking the question “Just who are you?”
Recently through the internet I have been in contact with my grandmother’s brother’s daughter. She has been a terrific source for identifying a great number of my maternal family’s ancestry. Out of this questioning who was in the photos, I have learned how important it is to label and date all the photos I take. When I am long gone at least future generations will know the who, where, and whens of the faces they are seeing.
I know there are many who place a lot of time and effort into researching ‘who’ they are and where did they come from. I find it interesting to learn about these past relatives but I find it more compelling to know where I am going in the future. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my forever eternal home will be with my Father God and Savior Jesus Christ. For those who are adopted, the search for their ancestry is made even more difficult. Some will never know their family tree nor the branches that they were born into.
As I come across my own earthly family heritage, I am reminded of the verse John 1:12-13. It states, ” But to all who did receive Christ, who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God”. ” For in Christ Jesus you are ALL sons of God, through faith” Galatians 3:26.
In saying this, I more compelled to set my thoughts and sight on my eternal home and know my heavenly Father. For those who are adopted and for those who know their genealogy, we can be certain of one thing. Those who know Christ as Lord and God as Father we already know our heritage. 2 Corinthians 6:18 states, ” I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”. Wow, that statement is both humbling and amazing! I am God’s child….what an awesome thought. If we are called God’s children, then think about all those who are our brother’s and sister’s in Christ. To know that my ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ are some pretty big names! Moses, Esther, Joseph, Daniel, Mary…What a phenomenal ancestry.
I guess the lesson I learned is this. Looking to the past is fun, but looking forward and knowing that all fellow Christians who know Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit are my family! For all who call themselves followers of Christ in the past and those who are alive today, are my family! As Christmas is approaching, I better get started now on getting my Christmas cards done! I have a lot of family to send them to! I am privileged to call so many my brothers and sisters! We all share the same Father, who loves us more than we can possibly know.
Encouragement for the Sojourner 