The Ancestors to Come

"When I grow up, I want to be an ancestor." ~ Unknown

When I first saw this quote last week, its implications hit like a ton of bricks. Oh my. If you're a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher, or in some other ministry to children (even as an aunt, uncle, or friend), do you feel the "weight" of this quote? Actually, who said it is apparently not known. I guess we can suppose it was intended to be cute or clever; that's not for certain. But from my viewpoint, it's one of the most powerful statements ever about the importance of the younger generation.

You see, this is a statement any child could make. They could make it now in the twenty-first century, and they could have made it years ago in the first century. Not only could they say they want to be an ancestor when they grow up, but if God spares them, in all likelihood they will be one. And what does that say to us who are involved in their lives at the present? What responsibilities for the future does this lay on our shoulders as to what kind of "ancestor" any given child will be?

Dearest ones who read these words, I hope this impacts you, as it does me, regarding the effect our dealings with the young ones in our midst will have on the future of our family, the Church, our country, and so on. Whatever effect our forebears have had on us, and I contend that has been significant, that very well could be the level of effect today's generation will have on those to come. And our impact as adults in their lives should never be taken lightly.

You realize this is no small matter. You read the news. You see what's happening in our society and in the world. I pray we can have some future effect as a stumbling block and/or a blessing. May it be that might come about by us making a difference for good in the lives of the ancestors who are to come.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna