Headstones and Footstones Speak

My wife and I recently spent time in Eastern Ohio looking for the grave sites of family members. As we searched, we observed many other head stones. Each one had a birth and death date, yet the allotted time between the two dates varied greatly. The duration of some were as little as a day, while others were over one-hundred years, with various times in between. Due to the passage of time, the inscription on many were no longer readable. One footstone that we noticed said mother, sadly, the m had sunk into the ground. As we looked up from the footstone, bushes had covered the headstone. It was evident that no one had cared for the graves in a long time. Regardless of the reasoning, this lady was a mother. No doubt had dreams and plans as we do. Wanted what was best for her children. However, now, where loved ones laid her to rest several years ago, no one seems to visit anymore. Forgotten? Perhaps. Maybe the generation who followed, has passed. Other than a descendant who may have her name on a family tree, no one living really knows who she was. Nonetheless, someone thought enough to place a foot stone with the word mother on it. Next to mother was one that said father. His headstone too was hidden. Who was he? What was his occupation? How many children did this mother and father have? One day that will be me. Will I be forgotten? Most likely, yes. The generation who follows me will pass, my grandchildren will live, and pass and I will be a name on a family tree. A great great grandchild may be interested in genealogy, do some research, and look for my burial place, next to my wife. Maybe they find mother and father foot stones. They may wonder, what we were like. What were our dreams and plans for life? What decisions did we make that influenced who they had become? Do they know God because of my choices? Do they not know God because of my choices? If the LORD allows, they too will make their own decisions and the cycle of life will continue. Regardless of whether anyone else remembers me, if JESUS says, I know Jay, I can say with all assurance, it will be well with my soul!

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13