Most of us know what a generational curse is. It is when we believe that a sin, or an area of bondage of our mother of father can be passed down from generation to generation. Maybe its Alcoholism, abandonment, or some other sin struggle, there are times we find patterns of our parents in ourselves. The race has taught me a lot about-facing my issues head on, and no matter how deeply rooted allowing the LORD to deliver me, and not playing the victim role. These lessons have played a heavy part in me being delivered.
But have you ever stopped to think about the weight of a Generational Blessing?
About the fact that the prayers and the righteousness of our parents and other family members could also be affecting the way we live our lives, the things that we do, and our strengths in the LORD. I believe these exist also, there are things my mother did right, that I see GOD has totally honored me in, and I struggle little with, and you know what?
It’s such a Blessing.
This month in March the World Race made history and for the first time they allowed something they never allow.Our parents came to visit.When I signed up for the Race I remember reading the policy that there were NO OUTSIDE VISITORS ALLOWED. This years journey there is so much emphasis put on adulthood, and independence so allowing parents into a world where GOD is supposed to be using us freely without limits can be intimidating. I remember my mom asking me multiple times if she was allowed to visit me, and I gave her a strong NO, telling her is was against policy. Well imagine my surprise when I got an email in Cambodia stating that all this had changed and the Race had decided to allow us to invite our parents out for a weeklong vision trip.
I was ecstatic! I immediately invited my mother, knowing that she loved missions, and wouldn’t mind traveling out to Africa in Month 9 of this journey to see me.
Now ill be honest, when I invited my mother I thought it would be a week of us hanging out with our parents, a little ministry here and there, but mostly getting to catch up. Well I was definitely wrong. The leaders of the parents portion came the night before and smashed that theory into pieces. They revealed we would have a week of intense ministry; jam packed with 4 different projects, and the option to do one of them 2 times. I was blown away, and honestly not excited about being worked on the scale of a short term mission, inside of the year long one I am already on, but nevertheless I was excited to see my mom, and excited to see what the LORD had in store for the both of us.
Well this was our week. Day one involved about 6 hrs of ministry in the Great Rift Valley doing door to door, walking in the hot open sun. Day 2, help build a house on the side of a mountain for 8 hrs, Day 3 Go back to the Great Rift Valley and do Evangelism in the sun for 8 hrs, and Day 4 visit an orphanage in the mountains. Honestly the orphanage was the easiest day, which was a blessing. On the 5th day we split up and I went back to help finish building the house, while my mom did hospital evangelism. It was an intense week! But the whole time GOD was speaking to me, through the challenges and the triumphs HE was there.
As I watched my mother work hard, pray for people, laugh, cry, lend hands and scripture to the poor, love on children, and give them attention they lacked I thought of my childhood. Growing up I honestly cant remember many seasons that we didn’t have someone other than my immediate family members living in our house. My parents were quick to allow cousins, uncles, friends and more live with us who didn’t have a place to stay. No questions asked. We had a van, which almost always took the neighborhood kids to church. My parents NEVER sent a child home hungry. I remember my dad being one of the favorite Sunday school teachers at our church. He would throw these huge parties at our house, and spend a ton of his money buying food, and gifts as prizes for the parties. He would take the boys from the church fishing, and let all the neighborhood kids play in our back yard.
My mother has one of the most generous hearts I have ever encountered. From money, to clothes she gives it all away. She has done prison and street ministry. Growing up I remember her telling me that each friend I ever had that she met she would pray for them every night and call them out by name. She stands on the street corner ever Sunday morning still inviting people to church, and so much more.
This past week I remembered these things as I watched her strongest gifts in the LORD come to the surface as she served HIM, and I noticed that I possess a lot of them.
Wow, PRAISE GOD!
The generational blessings I possess blow my mind. And the most beautiful thing about it all is that my parents ALWAYS gave all of the Glory to the LORD, so I grew up realizing that whatever I was called to in life, big or small, in triumph and pain that JESUS is at the center of it all, using it and working it out for HIS GLORY.
It’s ALL about HIM.
I was reminded that each racer present in the parents week was there working to the GLORY of the LORD because of something their parents had done. No matter if they are saved or not, no matter how perfect or imperfect it is a command to honor our parents, and by doing that it is biblical that our days will be long upon the earth. By us honoring them we bless the LORD, by us living for JESUS we draw them in deeper and deeper to CHRIST. It was beautiful to see our parents’ taste of the goodness of the LORD we have experienced all year. To see them once again give us back to GOD, and trust HIM with the path he has chosen for our lives, no matter how far geographically it led us away from them or for how long.
I am extremely blessed to have been a part of that. To do missions alongside my mother was such an honor and I am humbled that the LORD allowed me that opportunity.
No matter what your relationship is with your parents, know it is your biblical duty to honor them, and by living out the example of JESUS, by loving them no matter their shortcomings, you can win them over for CHRIST. JESUS has a plan for them the same way HE has a plan for you. Maybe HE is looking for someone close to home to help fulfill it.
Romans 8:28- For GOD causes ALL THINGS to work together for the good of those who LOVE HIM and are called according to HIS purpose.
That is you…
Let HIM use you my brothers and sisters…
