My name is Christy Greenwald. Like virtually every person alive, I attempt to fill many roles in a 24-hour day: I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, a clergyperson, a writer, a sister, a cousin, an aunt, a community volunteer, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend.
For all but the last few years of my life, I had another role: I was a daughter. In one sense, I relinquished that role in July of 2015 with the death of my remaining parent, my 95-year-old mother, Ruth. Believing firmly that Jesus has made eternal life in Heaven possible for those who repent and receive His gift of salvation from sin, I recognize that both my father and mother live on in the presence of God. In that sense, I am still, positionally, a daughter.
Yet for all practical purposes, I no longer perform the functions of a daughter. Birthdays, Christmases, and Mother’s Days have come and gone, and as each has approached I’ve caught myself thinking, “What shall I do for Mama this year? Oh…I forgot.”
I used to call her every couple of days. I used to stop by for tea after work. I used to take her grocery shopping, or out for lunch. I paid her bills. I checked in with the caregiver who visited her three times a week. We made lots of visits to doctors and hospitals. And always, always I had my cell phone at the ready for a midnight emergency call, even when she had to go into memory care at a nearby assisted living facility.
I’m relieved that Mama no longer suffers the pain and indignity great age inflicted. Yet the erasure of those regular tasks from my daily calendar still leaves me feeling oddly – lonely? Not exactly. Useless? No…. “At loose ends,” Mama would have said. Yes, that about describes it.
But I also realize that her physical departure has freed me to carry on my next task as her daughter – and, even more to the point, as a daughter of God: Sharing, in every way possible, the incredible gift of faith my four grandparents left to my mother and father, the same legacy they passed on to me, and that my siblings and I are passing on to our descendants.
And that’s the “why” behind this blog. The title comes from biblical verses that offer an extraordinary glimpse into the character of God. Verses like:
“I the Lord your God…show…mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Exodus 20:6
“Know, recognize and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.”
Deuteronomy 7:9
“I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.”
Exodus 34:7
These are Old Testament verses, but their intentional message rings true throughout the New Testament, as well, a truth future blogs will explore. Anyone who says “Yes” to belief and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord embarks on an eternity-long journey with a faithful, unconditionally loving God. His unfailing presence walks with us (and makes bearable) the horrible times. He rejoices and enjoys with us the good times.
But there’s more: God promises that the blessings of our agreement to journey with Him don’t stop with us. Instead, they continue to impact positively the lives of our children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – to a thousand generations.
I can hear some of you saying, “But I don’t have a big family – or any family at all! How do these promises apply to me?”
But you do have a God-given sphere of influence. Maybe you have nieces or nephews. Maybe you have students you are teaching at church, or mentoring in a community program, or at a public or private school. Maybe you support mission workers and their families around the world. And ALL of us have people we touch daily or weekly as we live our lives: caregivers, paper-boys or girls, cashiers at the grocery store, doctors, nurses, receptionists and technicians we visit, or a weekly cleaning person or landscaper.
Believe it or not, the biblical promises (see Isaiah 54:1-3, for example) and the experiences of thousands of Christ-followers affirm that these precious individuals within your circle of life can become your spiritual family, designed by God, and desperately in need of the heritage you can leave to them – a heritage of God’s love and blessing that can continue for – a thousand generations!
Sounds crazy-good? Generations of believers have watched it happen. History is replete with stories of God’s blessings on the biological and spiritual offspring of those who follow Jesus.
Come along and see for yourself!
