Blessed are the great-grandfathers, who saved
embarkation and citizenship papers, for they tell
WHEN they came.

Blessed are the great-grandmothers, who hoarded
newspaper clippings and old letters, for they tell
the STORY of their time.

Blessed are the grandfathers, who filled every legal
document, for these provide the PROOF.

Blessed are the grandmothers, who preserved family
Bibles and diaries, for these are our HERITAGE.

Blessed are fathers, who elect officials that answer letters
of inquiry, for--to some--the ONLY LINK to the past.

Blessed are mothers, who relate family TRADITIONS
and LEGENDS to the family, for one of her
children will surely remember.

Blessed are relatives, who fill in family sheets with extra
data, for to them we owe our FAMILY HISTORY.

Blessed is any family, whose members strive for the
PRESERVATION of RECORDS, for this is a
labor of love.

Blessed are the children who will never say,
"Grandma, you told that old story twice today."

-- Wilma Mauk

 

 

The Census

It was the first day of census, and all through the land;
The pollster was ready, a black book in hand.
He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride;
His book and some quills were tucked close by his side.
A long winding ride down a road barely there;
Toward the smell of fresh bread wafting, up through the air.
The woman was tired, with lines on her face;
And wisps of brown hair she tucked back into place.
She gave him some water, as they sat at the table;
And she answered his questions -- the best she was able.
He asked of her children. Yes, she had quite a few;
The oldest was twenty, the youngest not two.
She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red;
His sister, she whispered, was napping in bed.
She noted each person who lived there with pride;
And she felt the faint stirrings of the wee one inside.
He noted the sex, the color, the age.
The marks from the quill soon filled up the page.
At the number of children, she nodded her head;
And saw her lips quiver for the three that were dead.
The places of birth she "never forgot";
Was it Kansas? or Utah? or Oregon -- or not?
They came from Scotland, of that she was clear;
But she wasn't quite sure just how long they'd been here.
They spoke of employment, of schooling and such;
They could read some, and write some, though really not much.
When the questions were answered, his job there was done;
So he mounted his horse and he rode toward the sun.
We can almost imagine his voice loud and clear;
"May God bless you all for another ten years."
Now picture a time warp -- its' now you and me;
As we search for the people on our family tree.
We squint at the census and scroll down so slow;
As we search for that entry from long, long ago.
Could they only imagine on that long ago day;
That the entries they made would effect us this way?
If they knew, would they wonder at the yearning we feel;
And the searching that makes them so increasingly real.
We can hear if we listen the words they impart;
Through their blood in our veins and their voice in our heart.

-- Anonymous

We Are The Chosen

We are the chosen.  In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors.  To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before.  We are the story tellers of the tribe.  All tribes have one.  We have been called, as it were, by our

genes.  Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story.  So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves.  How many graves have I stood before now and cried?  I have lost count.  How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us."  How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me?  I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts.  It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do.  It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh.  It goes to doing something about it.  It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish.  How they contributed to what we are today.  It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a Nation.  It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. 

It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth, without them we could not exist, and so we love each one, as far back as we can reach.  That we might be born who we are.  That we might remember them.  So we do.

With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are they and they are the sum of who we are.  So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family.  It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take my place in the long line of family storytellers.

            That is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and restore the memory or greet those whom we had never known before.

 

(Unknown Author)

 

 

Prayers

Lord above,  when we contemplate the lives of all those down the years, we realize that each one took life as it came with our thinking about how they fit into the big picture—that of history.  Each of them was important --some were defenders and others were citizens, but all were dedicated to their beliefs.  May we strive to emulate them in all our endeavors.  AMEN

~

Ecclesiastics: Chap. 1, verse 4 “One generation passeth away; And another generation cometh; But the earth abidth forever.”

Dear LORD, on this celebration of Texas Independence Day, we come to remember and honor those who came before.  They came for various reasons, but banded together to win freedom from oppression and tyranny. Many gave their lives and others their worldly possessions to establish a republic and later this great state. May we ever show awe and respect for their endeavors.  AMEN

~

Dear LORD: As we gather to celebrate this birth date of the “Fathers of Texas”, let us take time to remember our own ancestors and the parts they played in establishing and developing our great state of Texas. Let us realize that each of us is only a clog in the “Wheels of Time” as it rolls from the past to the present and on to the future. We are thankful for the memories and inspirations from the past. We pray that as we have received so may we give to our children and those who come after us. Be our guide in all that we do and wherever  we go. In Jesus’ name we ask. AMEN

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Dear LORD, We are ever thankful for our ancestors who were both courageous and adventuresome to come to what was an unknown frontier in a foreign land.

May we instill in our children an appreciation for those ancestors who faced hardships and loss, and may we help create in them the heartfelt love for this great state of ours.

Teach us to work selflessly for the things we love so we may proudly regard our own contributions as a link in a chain started long ago and reaching far into the future.

AMEN

 ~

Be with us LORD in making decisions for the _________________ Chapter.  We have a fear of having to live with wrong choices. Grant us the wisdom to set realistic goals and the determination and patience to work toward these goals. Be our guide in all that we do.     AMEN

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Dear LORD.  We are thankful for the warm feelings that are being generated by this chapter meeting.  May it continue and may strong bonds of friendship develop as we all strive to guide our chapter during this year.  Be with each of us and watch over us as we travel home. In Thy Son’s name we ask.  AMEN

~

Dear LORD: Instill within us a sense of unity of purpose. Continue filling us with a sense of harmony and wisdom so this group may reach cautious decisions, ones that are best for the progress and success of our organization. Let each of us concentrate on developing our reputations for integrity and fairness.  Let us be just. Let us be faithful and true to the purposes of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Let us be honest and fearless. Let us each become persons on whom others can depend. In Jesus’ name, AMEN

~

As we gather to recognize this ________________, A day of HONOR in our great state of TEXAS. Let us be more aware of the perseverance of our ancestors. Many had wanderlust and had restless dispositions, but they were staunch and courageous, and were responsible for the greatness of our state. May we strive to enhance our history and make our descendants proud of us in the future.  AMEN