Roots and Heritage
“Build on Your Roots and Heritage,” the big sign read. I pondered that thought for quite a while. Roots and heritage. How could it apply to me? Or to you?
A heritage is something that is passed down from preceding generations; a birthright; a tradition. As for me I had yearned for a father’s blessing.
In Old Testament times children received a blessing by the father; For instance, Jacob blessed his twelve sons and two of his grandchildren with a blessing appropriate to each. (Genesis 49:28 NASB).
In later times in Jewish orthodox homes when a father gave a weekly blessing to his children it was to communicate a sense of identity, meaning, love and acceptance.1 A blessing is a word spoken for good that carries spiritual power and authority, and that sets in motion something that will probably go on from generation to generation.2
A few weeks after I saw the “Roots and Heritage” sign, I’d finished speaking at a retreat in a Southern state where my daddy was buried. I asked my friend Freda to drive me an hour south so I could visit his grave. I had been in another country when his funeral was held.
We drove until we finally saw a sign pointing to Sharon Cemetery, established in 1827. After I spotted his tombstone, I walked about trying to sort through my mixed emotions.
Daddy abandoned mother with four children when I, the oldest, was only 12. He married the other woman in his life. My siblings and I had visits with him in motel settings only six times over the many years. He wrote me a few letters–some hurtful, and certainly none contained a blessing.
I chose to forgive my dad in an emotional life-changing experience one summer night when I was in my thirties, while kneeling in a pastor’s office. I chose to forgive Daddy based on what God’s word required of me–surrendering to Jesus all my bitterness and disappointment.
Dad was bent with age when he travelled alone by bus to see three of his children who lived in the same state. While at my home, I felt a love for him, though I barely knew him. One night he asked me, “How could you love me after all I’ve done?” We had some deep conversations about how I had allowed Jesus to help me.
Now as I stood over his grave, my eye was drawn to the grave of my beloved granddad buried on the other side of his son–my dad. And that’s when I was awakened to my real heritage and blessings I had almost forgotten about.
Through the years Granddaddy had given my mother encouragement when he stayed with us on occasions–even though she was his former daughter-in-law. Whenever he dropped in, he was also my cheerleader–my father figure. “Girl,” he would say to me, “You can do anything you set your mind to do if God is in it. He’ll equip and help you.” 3
When Grandaddy, a Presbyterian minister, conducted my wedding ceremony, he laid his hand on my head and pronounced a biblical blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 (see verse below). He further blessed me by asking God’s favor and other good things, but most of all for me to fulfill God’s destiny. I had not fully comprehended the amazing significance of that event until I stood at his grave.
He was in his eighties when he made his last visit to my home. “Spectacular,” he had shouted when I took him to see Apollo 14 lift-off from our town’s riverbank. Later at the Kennedy Space Center Museum, I watched him gawk at the gray rock Neil Armstrong had brought back from the moon. Trying to comprehend this milestone, Grandaddy told me about his thrill at seeing his first automobile –a Model T-Ford–over 60 years earlier. “What progress we’ve made,” he said, shaking his head. Grandaddy went on to live into his nineties.
At his grave as other memories surfaced, I recognized that Grandaddy was an important part of my roots and heritage. I had never been abandoned. I bowed my head in the silence of that cemetery and thanked God for my forefathers and foremothers–my roots and heritage. And for my blessings from Grandaddy and from my Heavenly Father over the years.
Today as a grandmother, I pray my descendants will know that I have planted plenty of prayers and have also written out many blessings for them. Building upon my roots and heritage.
Have you, dear reader, considered your roots and heritage too? How you might speak blessings over your present family? Or find ways how to honor those who have preceded you?
This week my cousin, who lives in the state where our relatives are buried, placed flowers on the grave of my dad and grandaddy–as a memorial from us. And we laughed over the phone recalling funny incidents about our grandad.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for our parents, grandparents and other ancestors who have gone before us–for the commendable qualities they passed on to their next generations. Help us to so live that we will leave inspiring spiritual footprints for ours to follow. Thank You too that You have never forsaken or abandoned us! In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Scriptures: I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. (Isaiah 44:3 NKJV)
And He [Jesus] took them [little children] up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:16 NKJV)
The Lord bless you and keep you;The Lord make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you;The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV)
Quote: “Our Roots-Passing On Our Legacy”
“There are only two lasting bequests
We can hope to give our children—
One of these is roots; the other, wings.” (Hodding Carter, 1907-1972)
Footnote:
1. Gary Smiley and John Trent, The Blessing, Nashville, TN., Thomas Nelson, 1993) 31.
2. James W. Goll, “Invoking the Power of the Blessing,” Elijah List article, accessed, Nov. 29, 2015.
3.Quin Sherrer, Good Night, Lord, (Ventura, CA., Regal and Chosen Books, 2000) 175. Available ebook on Amazon
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