1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment can overtake them.
2 From the viewpoint of the foolish, they seemed to be dead,
and their passing away was reckoned as a misfortune,
3 and their departure from us as their ruin.
But they are at peace.
4 Although in the eyes of others they were chastised,
their hope is full of immortality.
5 Having endured a slight chastisement, they will receive great blessings,
because God tested them
and found them worthy to be with him.
6 He put them to the proof like gold in a furnace,
and he accepted them as a sacrificial burnt offering.
7 In the time of their visitation they will shine brightly
and spread like sparks among the stubble.
8 They will judge nations and have dominion over peoples,
and the Lord will be their King forever.
9 Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will dwell with him in love,
because grace and mercy are reserved for his holy ones,
and he shows concern for his elect.
Wisdom 3:1-9
Dear God, on this All Souls Day, I am left thinking that I don’t think about my dead ancestors enough. I think about some of them. The ones I knew. The ones I liked. But I don’t think about the ones I didn’t know, or the ones I might have known but with whom I had not relationship.
I just got some mementos from my mother’s house that are from my paternal grandmother. I knew her and liked her. I knew my paternal grandfather too. And I think about them. But I never their parents. And although I met my maternal grandmother, I only ever saw her a handful of times and I didn’t really know her. And I never met my maternal grandfather. He was long gone by the time I was born. Interestingly, however, almost everyone from my parents’ generation of the family are still living. I’ve only lost one uncle who I saw less than my maternal grandmother. That is to say, I didn’t really know him at all. But I haven’t experienced as much loss. Certainly, I haven’t experienced the type of loss my wife has, who has lost both parents, and has only one blood immediate family member at her parents’ generation level. This day means more to her than it does to me, mainly because I just don’t relate to it in the same way.
Father, I want to be more sensitive to my wife’s loss and pain even though I can’t empathize. I do, however, at least want to effectively sympathize. I also want to think more about the legacies, both good and bad, my ancestors left me that are rippling through history. And how my legacy will ripple through history in my descendants. I pray that you will make your plan me-proof. I don’t want to be able to get in the way of whatever you are doing in the world, but I want the dominoes my life knocks over to be part of bringing your kingdom and will into the earth. As I sit here right now, I am filled with love for all of the ancestors I did and didn’t know. They are part of me and I carry them with me. May it all happen for your glory.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 