Climbing Our "Family Tree"!

Behind my house, in my back yard is a maple tree. It is no ordinary maple tree. It is enormous! It is behind our two-stall garage and it extends far above and far to both sides. It is enormous - well, not compared to a Redwood trees . . . which are truly enormous - but compared to normal Michigan Maple trees, this one is enormous.

In - or more accurately on, it's branches are carved the names of my family members. When my youngest brother was about nine years old, he climbed this tree (as this was then our grandparent's back yard) and carved all his family member's names on the branches.

When my son was about nine years old, he climbed this enormous tree, (which was now our tree in our yard) discovered the names, and added the names of his generation of family members to the branches of the tree.

Eight years ago two of my grandsons climbed this enormous tree - with the help of their poppa as they were only four and seven years old at the time. They were too young to have a pocket knife and carve more names on the branches, but the day may come - sometime soon possibly, when there will be more names of family members added to the branches.

It is actually a "family tree"!

As I thought about this I remembered Isaiah 49:16 where God talks about having our names engraved on the palms of His hands. Well, He was actually talking about Israel and how He will never forget them, but I know He never forgets me - or my grandchildren ever, because He loves us with an everlasting and faithful love!

Yes, I have a family tree, and I have a tree with the names of my family engraved on it's branches, but the best place for our names to be, is on God's palms, and in His heart. It is my prayer my grandsons will grow to love, know, and follow their loving and faithful God all of their lives!