It was “this day in history” in late February 2021 that hubby, our daughter, and I took a “sun trip” to Tucson, Arizona. Hubby continued to work remotely during that week we were away. But just being able to see the sun every day and explore the area in the evenings and on the weekend was so restorative!
One evening, after hubby finished his workday, we took a hike at Honeybee Park. It was a beautiful Arizona desert hike as the sun was setting.
In revisiting the photos this week, this photo in particular really stood out to me …
As I looked at this photo of our shadows stretching far away in front of us as the sun set behind us, I couldn’t help thinking: “The influence of my life [or the “shadow” of my life] will only stretch down life’s path into the future about 2 generations. That’s all. Then everything about who I am or what I have done will be forgotten.”
The influence [or the “shadow”] of my grandparents’ lives has stretched “down the path” into my life. Their lives had an impact on me! But before my grandparents … the memory of those who came before is lost. I have no idea who they were, what they did, what their names were, or the impact they made upon the world.
So … we can’t help but ask: What does any of this life matter then?? If our life, and everything about us, will be completely forgotten within 2 generations, then what’s the point??
As I look back over the landscape of the desert we had just traveled through, it is truly beautiful.
So also, as we travel through our portion of life’s journey, we too can make the desert “landscape” of life beautiful. As we travel along, we can scatter “seeds” of kindness. We can sprinkle “seeds” of love and “seeds” of joy along our path.
As we travel our portion of life’s path, we can carry “water of refreshing” with us, and we can water the weary and thirsty along the way.
In looking at this photo here, it reminded me of my grandmother. My grandmother was a “prickly” difficult person.
But at the same time … my grandmother had a very fruitful life.
My grandmother was a hard worker! She took good care of her home and her family! As Proverbs 31:27 states: “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” That was my grandmother!
Proverbs 31:13 states: “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.”
My grandmother loved to quilt and sew. She used her gifting and her hands to make beautiful items for her family.
Proverbs 31:15 further states: “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family.”
That was my grandmother! My grandmother got up early! And she always cooked a good breakfast of bacon and eggs to start every day!
Proverbs 31:16-17 continues: “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”
My grandmother could grow a garden! Could she ever! My grandmother loved to grow a garden!
And my grandmother loved to can the produce she grew! My grandmother canned a lot every summer! She took great joy and delight in just how much she canned!
As we look back at the shadows of those who came before us it is easy to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. They have already traveled their life’s path, so we can see their journey in its entirety. We can see their wins. We can see their losses. We can see their struggles & weaknesses. We can see their failures.
We can see their “prickles.” And we can see their “fruit.”
The same thing is true of our own life. If anyone can see the good, the bad, and the ugly in our own life’s journey, it’s our kids! And perhaps their kids. For certainly the impression we leave on our kids will in turn be transferred onto their kids (our grandchildren).
After all, our family knows us better than anyone else. They see us when no one else does. They see our hidden motives that no one else can see.
They see us at our lowest moments. They see us in our struggles.
They see how we handle sin and temptation.
They see if what we say matches the way we actually live.
Then one day we stand on the path, and God tells us this is as far as we get to go.
We are not allowed to continue any further down life’s path. Our children will continue on down the path. And their children after them will continue on toward that range of hills in the distance.
Our “shadows” [aka: the impact we had on our children and our grandchildren] will stretch out ahead of us, lingering (for a time) with our children & grandchildren as they continue on down life’s path.
And behind us … behind us we leave the “landscape of life” more beautiful! Our kindness and love which we scattered and sprinkled along the path will have sprouted up, and grown beautiful … leaving a lasting impact on the terrain we traversed during our journey through life.
