One of the greatest examples of multigenerational vision can be found in the history of the Pilgrims. Perhaps you remember the story. In the early 1600s, a small group of Christians relocated their little church from England to Holland to worship God according to the Scriptures and their conscience. However, after about ten years, the economic and spiritual conditions there drove them to consider a more radical move. They set their sights on the New World and crossed the ocean in the summer of 1620.

In his book Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford recorded the firsthand account of their journey and the establishment of their church and community on a new continent. He explains in detail why this group of Christian believers was willing to risk everything, their lives and their families, in this adventure:

"We cherish a great hope, and an inward zeal, of laying good foundations for the advance of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ to the remote parts of the earth, even if we should be but stepping-stones to others in the performance of so great a work."

These words are special to me. I have taken hold of them as a mission statement for our family. My children gave me a large, framed plaque with these words written on it, which hangs in my home office right now. I love this mission statement because it's centered on "the advance of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ." But this is a generational work.

Lord, would you use my struggling family, here and now, to lay some good foundations? Maybe then my children and grandchildren can build on them. Lord, if you want to use my life and our family as a "stepping-stone" for future generations to stand on, so be it!

The Pilgrims' willingness to be "stepping-stones" captures a profound spiritual principle: sometimes our most significant contribution isn't what we accomplish in our lifetime, but what we make possible for those who come after us.

This perspective liberates us from the tyranny of immediate results. It allows us to faithfully plant trees whose shade we may never sit under. It honors the reality that some spiritual harvests require generations to fully mature.

Reflection Question: How might embracing the role of "stepping-stone" in your family's spiritual journey free you from discouragement when change seems slow? What legacy might you be establishing that you may not fully see in your lifetime?

Healing Family Relationships

We hope this devotional reading from Rob Rienow has been an encouragement to you. You can continue your journey by downloading this free sample of Rob’s book, Healing Family Relationships: VisonaryFam.com/Healing

You may also be interested in listening to Rob share more about "Building Honor In Your Family" on this episode of the Family Vision podcast: The Ten Commandments: #5: Build Honor in Your Family