Day 33 - Generational Health

Is the concept of a "generational curse" real? Exodus 34:7 states that God visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, up to the third and fourth generation. This notion can be unsettling, especially if your family has a history of hidden secrets and you see patterns repeating themselves.

My family has plenty.

But here's a colorful twist: Instead of focusing solely on generational curses, let's explore the concept of generational health. Generational health refers to how the well-being of our ancestors impacts our own health, which, in turn, affects the health of future generations. Health is all about being free from illness or injury, and it is influenced by various factors.

Generational curses used to frighten me. As a young Nigerian boy, I would often hear adults using African idioms to curse one another, like "May your offspring never rest!" or "God punish you!" It seemed as though the weight of past actions was carrying over to affect the present.

Whether we believe in generational curses or not, they have been mentioned multiple times in the Bible and Ancient Near East Literature. The idea is that these curses are passed down as punishment for the sins of previous generations, affecting subsequent generations for a limited period of time. However, let's add another layer of understanding. While we are responsible for our own decisions, it's important to recognize that our choices have long-term consequences.

I once had an NFL teammate who constantly expressed his determination not to become another statistic as a black male. He shared how his father had made poor choices, fathering north of ten children with different women in a very small town. He vowed never to repeat that pattern. However, years later, I unfortunately witnessed him struggling with multiple children from different partners and an inability to build meaningful relationships. He was becoming the very thing he wanted to avoid. It was then that I realized curses weren't some mystical force possessing us, but rather a series of actions and behaviors that ultimately impact future generations.

Seven days left.

Reflection:

How would your actions change if you knew that four or five generations after you could be significantly affected? Understanding the potential impact of our choices on future generations can inspire us to make wiser decisions and strive for generational health.

Practice:

I find that taking time aside to articulate embedded pain helps me change my behavior. Write down a deep secret your family carries, it’s not to be shared with anyone. Ask yourself how this affects you and your relationships with others.