Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 17:6

After my marriage 47 years ago, I moved from Ohio to New Jersey where I was totally removed from my family except for a few visits each year from parents and a rare visit from an aunt, uncle or cousin. There were no relatives around for me to join in observing routine family rituals that were part of my childhood. One such ritual was to visit the family's cemeteries and place flowers on graves as part of Memorial Day weekend events.

For Memorial Day this year, my husband and I were in Ohio and renewed this ritual while pursuing my interest in genealogy. Although I was not able to visit the graves of all of my ancestors, I was able to place flowers upon the graves of my mother and father, my fraternal grandparents, both sets of graves for my fraternal great-grandparents, and the graves of one set of my fraternal great-great grandparents. In addition, I was able to visit the area where one set of my fraternal great-great-great grandparents lived, farmed, operated a lock on the Muskingom River and were buried -- although their graves have been destroyed.

In addition to placing flowers on the graves, I spent considerable time reviewing the genealogical information I know about these relatives and recalling memories associated with my family. Over and over were references, and memories, related to church involvement -e.g., baptizing children, marrying in the church, singing in the choir, leading congregation singing, acting as an officer in Sunday School class, serving as deacon, acting as clerk for the session, housing the circuit pastor, responding to social-ministry needs, donating land for the building of a church, and funeral services being held in the church.

As stated in Proverbs 17:6, the children were a "crown to aged." It seemed in every generation, children brought their parents into their homes to care for them when they could no longer live by themselves. And as a child of my ancestors, I certainly am proud of them.

I have often heard people say that the church is one generation away from extinction. In my genealogical gatherings, I have documented evidence showing a family practicing their faith in their everyday lives did indeed help keep the church alive. I thank God for my family who passed their faith to me.

Be with me God as I pass my faith to my children.
I pray that it may it be as fertile as that passed to me.
Amen

Contributed by Nancy
Sunday July 8, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 32