Family History

The past couple of weeks I’ve been doing a bit more research on my family history, reviewing pictures and documents I have on hand as well as through searches on Ancestry.com.  And I’ve learned some things about my family that I didn’t know. For example, I learned the exact town from which my Greek grandparents came; I can even find it on a map (and hope to visit it some day). I’ve learned the names of the ships some of my relatives came over on and some of the places where they lived between their homeland and their arrival in America. (I didn’t realize that not all of them came directly to America.)  I’ve found names of relatives I did not know existed. And I’ve read about some of the circumstances that drove them from their homelands—mostly war and poverty.  

My father’s parents came from Greece, separately—they were married in NYC in 1919. My mother’s side was Jewish coming from Europe. Her maternal side came from what today is western Ukraine, but was then Austria/Poland/Galicia. Her mother’s parents, although from the same region, as well came here separately and met and married in NYC. And, her paternal side came from Latvia/Russia, after having lived for a period of time in London. It’s all very fascinating to me. On one hand, it makes me sad to think of so many of my family members of the past fleeing war and poverty, leaving behind all that they ever knew, including parents, relatives, and friends (much like so many refugees today). Yet, I’m also thankful that they came. For one, my Jewish side of the family having come before WWII, was saved from the Holocaust. And on my Greek side, their coming saved them from all the wars that were taking place in the early 20th century in their homeland and the poverty that they were facing. And of course, we as a family were given the opportunity to live in this great nation. 

I’m most of all thankful, however, that by means of their coming, my family and I were given the opportunity to know the gospel and be brought into a relationship with Christ. We as a family were brought a knowledge of Christ that would have most likely never entered into our family line otherwise. Not that all my relatives came to believe in Jesus, but it was here in America that my Greek grandparents came to know the Lord. And it was through them and their witness to my Jewish mother that she came to know Christ. Thus, my family and I were taught the gospel and today have Christ in our lives. And my goal for my life has been to pass on that same gospel to those who come behind me—my children, grandchildren, etc.

The psalmists words feel so appropriate to me today: “My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done…so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God….” (Psalm 78:1-7 – NIV) 

I don’t know what your family history is, but you can know that in spite of all that might have happened in the world, family situations, the bright lights of the family line and the darks spots, God is able to work to bring about the blessing of salvation to you, your family, and your descendants. He’s probably already done that for many of you. And he wants to use you to continue that blessing to those who come after you. 

My prayer today is one of thanksgiving for what God has done in my family—in spite of war, poverty, and even the dark spots of my family line. And I pray for those who come after me, that each one of them would know Christ and the power of the gospel at work in their lives. And may he do the same in your family as well. 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris