Dear Grandkids,
I am currently pondering my way through the Gospel of Matthew as I spend time in the Scriptures each day. I was reading through the genealogy in Matthew 1:
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
Nothing terribly excited about reading a bunch of names. But as I pondered the practical implications of this list I thought about this…. Everyone of those names represents a life lived. Every one of those lives has a corresponding story. Some of those stories are inspiring and faith-fueled. Some of those stories are sad and forgettable.
One of these days my name will just be a name in a long list like this. When your great grand-kids (who will never meet me or know me) hear my name will it bring to mind stories that spur them to live courageous, faith-filled lives or will it be a name that provokes them to do nothing – that is essentially forgotten in time.
My hope is that when you hear the name Pop Pop that it will remind you of fun, and faith, and laughter, and singing, and generosity, and adventures.
And as you write the stories that will be associated with your name don’t forget the words of Proverbs 22:1 which says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”
Never forget that you are very loved!
Pop Pop
