mercy

2 Timothy 1:5-7 (New International Version)

⁵I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

I heard this the other day and i cannot quit thinking about it. we believe that we are in charge of our children, and in some way our grandchildren. but beyond that, we have very little influence. what if, that were not the case, what if, for every aunt, or grandfather that was a godly person, that prayed for their descendants, that taught sunday school, that was a deacon, that cooked meals...you get the idea. what if because of their devotion, i, you have been spared things that might have happened to us? what if God's mercy has rained on my sisters and family because of my mothers parents, my grandparents parents? what if their courage under fire, has allowed my children to be blessed in ways that i cannot even see? what if, i, you could serve God, and rather than the obvious blessings that happen when you are serving, but what if my children, and my grandchildren were receiving mercy and blessings and some are not even born yet, but God has those stored up for them. like in Hebrews, levi was granted tithes and offerings before he was born, because of his relatives. his relatives who lived obedient lives and served God. if, serving God and the blessings it heaps on your own life were not enough, this revelation that by going to church, mentoring the youth, loving the elderly is actually propelling my children and my amazing grandchildren, (i know that they will be), to a place where God will open hearts and doors for them. i will forever look at my prayer life and service different because of this. this is not only true for my immediate family, but for my nieces and nephews, and their children. what would you NOT do to ensure a life that is one of peace and happiness? short of nothing. i heard it put like this, and thought it was again, amazing-you are basically ruined for doing wrong, when you have been prayed over and have had a Godly legacy, then it is uncomfortable and you will feel unrest if you are not being faithful. that is what our ancestors has done for us, i call it done for us, some may not, but from this point on, when i am spared something, or a problem solved, i will think to a great uncle that resisted temptation or a grandmother who suffered much, perhaps unknown to anyone, offered it up for her grandchildren, ME. this goes into the great computer void anyhow, but for all the relatives who have gone before me and still with me, thank you for serving and living your life, that i might have blessings that just fall like snowflakes around me, i think i know now...