Keeping Our Priorities Straight

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Using our time wisely is the balance we need
when pursuing our family history.

To everything there is a season!

Thinking about Family History and Genealogy can be overwhelming. The breadth and scope of family history encompasses so much. I like to think about Genealogy as first, gathering important information about your family from those relatives that are still living, then establishing a pedigree chart and family group sheets with proper documentation of your sources of information. As you carefully collect your data and gather your information you begin to establish the foundation for the research that you can now do electronically and through various other means, to begin to create your family tree.

By learning the methodology of research, and finding a way of organizing your files and documents that works for you, that tree of yours will hopefully begin to blossom, eventually dating back many generations. You want to be extremely careful in how you connect someone to their parents. One error there and your family tree will not be accurate. People have spent years barking up the wrong tree, so to speak. So careful research, analysis and documentation of where you get your information is extremely important. A genealogy is only as good as its documented sources. You must be patient and thorough. This takes commitment, dedication and time.

Family History is a broader umbrella that encompasses genealogy but is not limited to it. One question that comes up fairly often is how do we get people motivated to do this important work? It seems that the people that are not motivated cannot see why they should be. I think it is a legitimate concern. Some people wonder how they can possibility concentrate on the dead when the living take up all their time and energy? Also a valid thing to ponder. Some are just so busy getting through the hurdles of each day to even think about it.

Along with prioritizing the importance of Family History in your life's work, the sequencing of the steps to accomplish your goals is important. As an example, you need to download a software program before you can start to store your genealogy electronically. That may necessitate finding a good workspace, getting a computer, Internet service, etc.

It seems that if you have a house full of tiny ones, or you are currently unemployed or dealing with a serious illness, or any number of other big issues, family history can slip to the bottom of your pile pretty easily. But you can do something little to prepare, like getting a username and password for the use of http://new.familysearch.org. We often have that all or nothing kind of a mentality, thinking that it will just have to wait until we can devote ourselves exclusively to it. We all know that day never really comes and quickly the years come and go and little gets accomplished.

To me the most important thing is to realize that even though there is a season in a person's life when this work can be done more easily, there is no reason to put it off totally until that time arrives. Little by little much can be accomplished. Ideally your family history should be something you work on all of your life. It is never done so there is no reason to think that at some point you just stop. Family history is a living growing thing, just like your family life.

As you focus more consistently, even in small doses on this work (see YouTube 5 Minute Genealogy videos), you will truly begin to appreciate the eternal aspect of families and how one generation influences, shapes and contributes so much to the next. The reverse is also true. The descendents of a person also contribute so much. We are so blessed to be able to look in both directions for a wonderful and balanced legacy of family life.

The Lord knows all of this! He has not asked us to do this work just as busy work. He never asks us to do something that doesn't bring glory to his name, bless us and bless others.

Matthew 22:37-40 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

He knows who belongs to which family! The ancestors that become lost to us are not lost to him! He has asked us to do it because of the benefit and understanding it brings into our hearts and minds and to benefit others. It is also a way for us to help build his kingdom and to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (his children), which is God's work and his glory.

This is a fact; we love whom we serve. We will never find the time, we have to make the time. When he asks us to do something he will provide a way for us to accomplish it, if we but ask. The first step of an active faith is to act. We must make the move..get on the road.

Take the first steps...it is a lovely road!