Blessings through Generations

(Ready for the Daddy Daughter Dessert Night)

Exodus Chapter 34 says 'Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

What sins have passed down through your generations? For me it is depression (read: selfishness). I've always struggled. It is so easy for me to throw a little pity party for myself. It is just the way I have always been (why do I have to be - I can change that, right?). I was reminded by our small group leader that even while the sins can be passed through generations, prayers and blessing reverberate even more so throughout eternity. Wow. Let that sink in. I've never been challenged to pray for my kids. I'm always so worried about me. I'm worried about my 3 year old messing his pants every day, I'm worried about my teenager - hoping she's not turning out like me, I'm worried about my grade-schooler and how she will do in school. I'm worried about the baby and how he does in this wild family. I never thought to pray for my kids' spouses or even their children. That's been a challenge. What a great way to get the focus off myself.

Psalm 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children.

What did you learn?