Spiritual Genogram – My Spiritual Family Tree

What’s that you ask? Well, it’s not something that I had heard of either before working as the secretary at the Johnson Bible College Counseling Center. The grad students are required to do a regular genogram (extensive and intensive family tree) and then for one class they are also required to graph out a spiritual genogram. Well, I really didn’t give any thought to it until this morning. For the past month or so the Lord has been waking me up in the early hours to spend time with Him and this morning was one of those mornings. Well, as I was praying and the Lord was beginning to reveal to me a lesson that He has been teaching me on contentment (another former post), I began to think about all those who have contributed to my life spiritually over the years because this lesson began with a prayer that one of you had prayed for me about 5 years ago (that I would have a heart of contentment). As my heart was contemplating these things, I began to realize that the Lord has truly blessed me with a very rich spiritual family tree. Of course, first of all, my parents were the ones to plant the first seeds in my spiritual life with their prayers and example of loving Jesus and loving me in a way to direct me towards loving Jesus. Then, from the very beginning, starting with the pastor who prayed the prayer of dedication when I was a baby, and moving through until now, there have been so many who have enriched my life and pointed me towards Jesus in ways that perhaps they haven’t even been aware of. So I am writing this to thank you for being an instrument that the Lord has used to help to mold and make me into who I am today. Some of you were there when I was very young, some of you when I was in those tumultuous middle school and high school years, some during my years of young adulthood (not that I’m out of that stage yet :)), and some presently, and for Mom and Dad who have been there through it all -- THANK YOU! I know that they say “in ministry” that you may never know the impact that you’ve had on someone until you reach heaven, but I also know that it is nice to know that some of your hard work, tears, and prayers have been effective now when your heart needs encouragement here on earth. You are appreciated and encouraged to keep loving Jesus in a way that encourages others to do the same. As Mark, my husband, studies in the preaching/church leadership program here at Johnson Bible College, I have come to the realization that I may have the opportunity to have an impact on other's lives as you’ve impacted mine and that has made my appreciation for you and how you have allowed God to work in your lives more real to me. This is a responsibility that neither Mark nor I take lightly, and so if the Lord happens to bring us to your minds, please just pray that we would always remain close to the Lord and that we would grow in our love for Him and each other and those that He calls us to minister to. May God bless each one of you today and everyday!