Comments on: A Thousand Generations

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:19:19 +0000

My grandmother is 88 years old and she reminds me of your grandmother. Your tribute to her was so sweet and loving! I echo Kristine’s thoughts concerning your family! You are all blessed!

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:04:48 +0000

Thank you all for your kind words. I am indeed very blessed to have been born into such a godly family — sort of a picture of how we, through no merit of our own, can be adopted into God’s family through Jesus. And of course, for those who are first-generation Christians, what a great opportunity to establish a new branch of the family, if the Lord tarries in His return.

Jesus said to His disciples:

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

I don’t think it is much of a stretch to believe that there is a related special blessing for those first-generation believers who are establishing faith in Christ in their families. God knows it is harder to believe without seeing, and rewards accordingly. For those who grew up without a godly example and still choose godliness, I would expect that God would reward that faith and perseverance generously. After all, you can’t control or alter the choices your ancestors made, but you can make your own choices today and tomorrow, to say “Yes” to Jesus.

And for those who have been blessed with generations of believers, there is a more sobering verse:

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48b)

Sometimes people who have been blessed become complacent and fail to pass on the blessing to others; this is something I struggle against often.

By: Kristine/SHS

Kristine/SHS — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:22:50 +0000

Tim, such a celebration of your grandmother’s life. I sometimes envy you and Kathy for the strong Christian families in which you were raised.

Our neighbor’s son is currently stationed in Iraq, out of Ft. Lewis.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:58:12 +0000

What a wonderful tribute. Thanks so much for SHARING! I hope to live as long as your grandma and hope to see my grandkids and great grandkids one day! It’s quite humbling to think, as you say, about the everyday choices we make having such lasting consequences. It’s good for me to be reminded of such things on a regular basis!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:52:20 +0000

Wonderful tribute, Tim. I come from a very large family, but largely unsaved at this point. It makes me sad.

Thanks for sharing your family.

By: dorothy

dorothy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:10:16 +0000

A very precious legacy, movingly told.

Is it wrong to feel jealous?

Dorothy, with no christian relatives.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:48:47 +0000

Well….that’s not nice to do to a person … make her sit and blubber all over the place and without a tissue warning, at that!

Seriously, Tim, thanks for sharing this. Your family legacy is a BLESSING. Now I know why your family is such a joy to be around and why you got such an awesome wife!!! I see the blessings as they are passed down, generation to generation, in your family. Your grandma must have been Some lady!!! What a treasure that she got to meet so many of her great grandchildren!!! I am only 2nd generation believer and pray that from here on out, until we meet Jesus in heaven or in the clouds, that our children’s children and their children will follow hard after Christ.

May God continue to RICHLY bless your family heritage!!!

By: Aunt Kate

Aunt Kate — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:22:12 +0000

I have been tearing up all thru this, Tim. It’s wonderful. I love the way you put the 6 military deaths next to your gramma’s death. Heaven is surely the prize- and what a tragedy if missed.

Some of my tears surely are for the concern of my legacy-will the Snider kids and grands meet Jesus in time!! I keep praying.

Jon Mark looks so much like you. Love you lots, Aunt Kate

By: Tracy Lenavitt

Tracy Lenavitt — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:33:25 +0000

What an incredible legacy. Josh and I were reading yesterday about Enoch “walking with God”, what better thing could be said?

By: De'Etta

De'Etta — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:33:47 +0000

*who loved the Lord with all her heart, from the day she trusted Jesus until the day she died. *

Thanks for sharing, Tim. This sentence leapt out at me. May it be said of me some day. Thanks again.