The Wall

In the entryway of my family's home there is a very large wall that was white and bare for many years.  My mother eventually filled it with old photographs.  These pictures meant very little to me, but everyone seemed to be absolutely obsessed with them.  Every visitor would stand in front of these black and white faces and comment on their oldness.  I passed them several times a day without thinking of who they were or why they were there and tried my very best to dust their frames without sending them to a second, carpeted grave. 

I don't know when I realized who those people were, but it clicked one day.

That wall, those photos--they are a small sample of my family tree.  A now very out of date picture of my immediate family is in the middle and fanning out on either side are the McAllisters, Tanners, Maughans, McBrides, Johnsons, Fackrells, Pratts and all the et ceteras.






Looking at their faces and smiles is something of a scavenger hunt for my own features.  I can trace full lips and almond eyes, hip glasses and large teeth through the generations.  They are in me, and I am made up of them.  I am thus because so many of my ancients decided to get married and roll the genetic dice.



And so they are mine.
I cannot separate my life from theirs.  I have inherited the consequences of their choices and am living in the future of their dreams.  It is a great life they have created for me through small faith-inspired and hope-filled decisions.



And one day they will be more than just frozen faces in wooden frames.  God's plan for His children is eternal; families will be together forever. There are many faces on that wall whom I have never met.  One day, we will have eternity to talk about this weirdness that is mortal life.  And I will understand more then than I do now about what exactly they have done for me.




Until then, I will learn all I can about who they are and how I can be with them forever.



You can too.
familysearch.org
mormon.org
lds.org