For Such A Time

A long time ago a couple of young folks immigrated from Holland to America. They settled in southern Illinois and northern Indiana. Bill and Christine married, moved to Iowa, and raised 10 children (2nd generation). All 10 children married, stayed in Iowa, and had around 40 offspring (3rd generation). I'm the little guy standing in the left front corner of the picture.

In 1957 my grandparents built this home which is just south of the current Oskaloosa Elementary School on the old apple farm. Those 3rd generationers are my siblings and cousins. Most of them married and had around 100 kids (4th generation). Obviously my grandparents are gone. The only 2 wives left from those 10 married children are my mother (Harry) and my Aunt Marilyn (Cornie).

Most of those 100 4th generationers married, (our children included), are raising families (5th generation), have businesses, and are now considered middle-age. A few 5th generation (some of our grandchildren included) are now adults, have their own businesses or helping their parents, and are starting to have children (6th generation).

Earlier this past week was snowless in southern Iowa. Doing dirt work in January is a gift around here. BJ (4th generation), Alex, Kasey, and John (5th generation) pattern tiled on Karl's (4th generation) home farm. Mike (4th generation) leveled dirt where Ethan and Elijah (5th generation) had excavated out a drainage ditch.

Gideon and Emily (5th generation), at their locker (Sully Meat Market), are back in the groove after a busy holiday season. Little Oakley (6th generation) and her unborn sibling, due next month, come to work with their parents often.

We were created to live a bigger life than ourselves. We are also expected to bear fruit. However those things are impossible without the help and grace of our Heavenly Father. Growing fruit takes time. I've often been pruned. Pruning is an act of love, and doesn't mean God is displeased. Outward fruit comes from an inward life.

Christian living is not trying harder. It's abiding, remaining, and staying close to Christ. How about you? For such a time as this, you also are on earth with a heritage and for a purpose. Are you living a bigger life than just yourself? How much time do we have left on earth? How do we want to be remembered?

55 years ago cousin Al and I stood together in front of Calvary CRC Church in Pella, answered the profession of faith questions, and told the church and community we intended to live a life bigger than ourselves. Those profession of faith questions promised us God would never leave us. On New Years Day, 2026, I went and visited cousin Al in the hospital for the last time. We reminded each other of those promises.

Cousin Al lost his battle to cancer on earth. However because of his accepting Christ's gift of salvation, he is now in heaven with his grandparents, his parents, and his older brother. I'm going to remember to keep his wife Joyce, his kids, Matt and Megan and their families, and his sisters Linda, Sheryl, and Valarie in my prayers for awhile. 

I might be wrong, but I'm thinking Al was #13 of our 3rd generation tribe who have went on to eternity. "I will recall all you have done, O Lord; yes, I will remember your wonderful deeds of long ago". Psalm 77:11. Help me Lord to have unity over accuracy, and to see opportunities rather than outcomes, for such a time as this. The picture below is the church service we attended in Grand Cayman last week.