roundcorners_IHB
New member
Our Church is going through the book of Proverbs in the Bible. A few things stick out in my devotions, which I never noticed before. After reading BK thread over the weekend, given the current economic downturn and thinking about my up bringing, my father?s up bringing, his fathers, and father?s father. The one theme of generational blessings, curses, sins and tragedies really spoke to me.
My great-grand father was a known doctor in Taiwan that was struck down with a sudden disease at the prime of his youth; I believe before the occupation of Japan. Apparently our family has a long line of Pastors (dating back to the original Irish Presbyterian missionaries of the late 1800s); entrepreneurs, lawyers, and doctors.
My grand father in turn was forced into hard labor in a lumber yard before his 8th birthday. Without proper guidance, education or opportunity, my grand father slaved away at the lumber yard for most of his life. My dad remembers him coming home day after day covered head to toe in saw dust. He also died at a fairly young age, I?m guessing roughly in his 50s.
Things get a little sketchy as to why the other siblings and relatives of my great-grand father didn?t step-up to help raise my grand father; apparently our line of the family was really at a disadvantage compared to the rest.
My dad has five siblings, they had a hard rural life, and my dad in turn also worked manual labor at an early age. During his time in the Taiwanese army he learned electrical engineering and electronic repair. With the help of other relatives he was able to work at a family medical clinic. He eventually saved enough to open up a Sanyo Franchise; they sold everything in 1981 and immigrated our entire family to Gardena.
That single tragic event completely affected two whole generations. It took the hard work, dedication and sacrifices of my grand father and father to get us where we are today. Sometimes I wonder, what would have happen if he didn?t died at the peak of his earning potential? Would I be like one of my peers who have a huge Irvine SFR, with the help of educated parents & grand parents?
A few Proverbs also makes me wonder the implications of my life, now that I?m a father. Sure there are semi-inconsequential events such as minor/major sicknesses, bodily injuries, recessions, job losses and business failures - all the way up to - grave injuries such as crippling accidents that can costs us years or even decades of our lives. I wonder how losing your life savings in a foreclosure will affect your decedents. But what about more severe tragedies such as divorces, chemical & alcohol addictions, incarcerations, (refugees/victims of) war, and untimely deaths.
This also goes to show that the decision we make such choosing to be emotionally healthy, finding a compatible, complementary spouse, being connected to a nurturing, genuine community and possessing a greater purpose in a close fellowship with a higher power not only affect our lives but lives of generations to follow.
If tragedies can be transferred generationaly, I also believe blessings can also. As I mentioned before, one of the reason why I?m a Christian today is because someone generations past decided to follow Christ from a white Irish Presbyterian missionary. And generations, countless numbers of family members have been transformed and are being transformed everyday because of that decision.
In looking backwards and forwards in your family tree, would you agree with my basic premise of generational curses and blessings?
My great-grand father was a known doctor in Taiwan that was struck down with a sudden disease at the prime of his youth; I believe before the occupation of Japan. Apparently our family has a long line of Pastors (dating back to the original Irish Presbyterian missionaries of the late 1800s); entrepreneurs, lawyers, and doctors.
My grand father in turn was forced into hard labor in a lumber yard before his 8th birthday. Without proper guidance, education or opportunity, my grand father slaved away at the lumber yard for most of his life. My dad remembers him coming home day after day covered head to toe in saw dust. He also died at a fairly young age, I?m guessing roughly in his 50s.
Things get a little sketchy as to why the other siblings and relatives of my great-grand father didn?t step-up to help raise my grand father; apparently our line of the family was really at a disadvantage compared to the rest.
My dad has five siblings, they had a hard rural life, and my dad in turn also worked manual labor at an early age. During his time in the Taiwanese army he learned electrical engineering and electronic repair. With the help of other relatives he was able to work at a family medical clinic. He eventually saved enough to open up a Sanyo Franchise; they sold everything in 1981 and immigrated our entire family to Gardena.
That single tragic event completely affected two whole generations. It took the hard work, dedication and sacrifices of my grand father and father to get us where we are today. Sometimes I wonder, what would have happen if he didn?t died at the peak of his earning potential? Would I be like one of my peers who have a huge Irvine SFR, with the help of educated parents & grand parents?
A few Proverbs also makes me wonder the implications of my life, now that I?m a father. Sure there are semi-inconsequential events such as minor/major sicknesses, bodily injuries, recessions, job losses and business failures - all the way up to - grave injuries such as crippling accidents that can costs us years or even decades of our lives. I wonder how losing your life savings in a foreclosure will affect your decedents. But what about more severe tragedies such as divorces, chemical & alcohol addictions, incarcerations, (refugees/victims of) war, and untimely deaths.
This also goes to show that the decision we make such choosing to be emotionally healthy, finding a compatible, complementary spouse, being connected to a nurturing, genuine community and possessing a greater purpose in a close fellowship with a higher power not only affect our lives but lives of generations to follow.
If tragedies can be transferred generationaly, I also believe blessings can also. As I mentioned before, one of the reason why I?m a Christian today is because someone generations past decided to follow Christ from a white Irish Presbyterian missionary. And generations, countless numbers of family members have been transformed and are being transformed everyday because of that decision.
In looking backwards and forwards in your family tree, would you agree with my basic premise of generational curses and blessings?