Psalm 44

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+44&version=NIV

We have heard it with our ears, O God;
    our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
    in days long ago.

My grandparents on my mother’s side were devout Christians. My great grandfather was the principal of the Lutheran school I went to – so Lutheranism is in my blood. They shared the faith with me and encouraged me to go to Lutheran Schools. I saw them share the faith with their friends, lead Bible studies, do work at the church, winning potlucks, doing the things church people do.

What did your grandparents and parents teach you about the faith for good and for bad? I never realized my own ancestors march in the faith until I had to do a religious genealogy of my own family. My dad was Episcopal until he met my mom and became Lutheran. I assume his dad was also raised Episcopal. Turns out no- my grandpa and his 8 or so siblings were raised Lutheran. My grandpa Jake married an Episcopal and became one. I guess I’m supposed to do the same. So far haven’t fell for that trap.

Regardless I’ve often wondered if my faith is stronger because I’ve stuck with the one of my family or if it would be stronger if I had come to faith later. I don’t know. But there’s something beautiful about following the faith of my ancestors. Even further back the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and Mary, you know all the folk.

Even if your ancestors didn’t have faith in Jesus- they still taught you something and instilled something in you. They had faith in something. It’s sad that the older you get after they’ve passed away the more you think about these things. Ask questions of your grandparents faith and about their work. Ask them about their parents. I didn’t know until after my grandmother died that she first learned to speak in German. I never heard her speak German and I took 4 years of it in high school. It was the dumbest move I made.

God put us in families for a reason. To learn from each other and to learn how to love them over time and often over conflict. Take time to get to know them and know that even if those relationships are ugly- they’re in some way a part of you. You can learn from someone either positively or negatively, but you only have so many close blood relatives in this life.

Love your God. Love your family.