Finally, Mother Then Taught Me

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have

wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.

"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.

"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOUR.

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.

"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

Mother Also Taught Me ...

My Mother In Law Hazel Guriel Was A Great Teacher



8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about being a CONTORTIONIST.

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?"

10 My mother taught me about STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12 My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION.

"Stop acting like your father!"

The Biblical Story of Generational Family Life

Today I am suggesting that you watch a video tape by Charlie McMahan, Lead Catalyst at Southbrook Christian Church in Dayton. In this video Charlie had one of the very best explanations of generational blessings and curses that I have heard.

It is the first of four talks he did on the topic of Regenerate your Family Tree. The next two I joined with him to show the Genogram and share from my own family experience. The last one is Charlie and his beautiful daughter Jordan discussing the fun and imperfections of growing up in the home of a Minister.

Happy watching!

Pictures Tell A Story

The photo I posted last time showed the John Thomas Dempsey family and many of their spiritual and temporal values. What do you think the family is trying to communicate by the way they posed the picture. Back in the early 1900's when the picture was taken it was a serious matter to spend the time, money, energy and effort to have a family photo taken. With the advent of the telephone camera we have made photography easy, cheap, and universal. That was not the case in 1910.

They would have thought about what values and principles they wanted to communicate. Rev. J.T. and Belle and the entire family are dressed in their Sunday best. It is a formal occasion. One in which they had to prepare.What else can we discern?

He and Belle are holding the Holy Bible opened to a passage of scripture. Although we do not know which passage, we know their lives are based on the Bible.

As you look at the photo more carefully, ask yourself what you think the rest of the photo is telling us about this family at this time in life.

You can get a copy of my text book How to Be Me in My Family Tree at the web store.  In that book you will learn how to start the process of tracking your own family heritage and discern what the photos and memorials mean to you and your offspring.

The photo above was taken of the three male offspring of Nancy (Nannie) Dempsey Taylor. Left to right are: John Max Kirk, son of Lelah Taylor Kirk, Maurice Dwayne Sweeten and Gary Ray Sweeten, sons of Leota Taylor Sweeten. Later John Max was joined by Linda Ann and Danny Dale and The Sweeten boys by Tommy Taylor.

What does this photo tell you?

Generational Blessings

Many of us have had a picture taken of the family with a new car or a new boat. But my Great Grand Father and Grand Mother were proud of the Mule they had back at the turn of the Century. My Grand Mother, Nancy Dempsey Taylor, their daughter, was born in 1894. She is a teenager in the photo so it must be around 1910.

Pa Dempsey was converted as an adult and had a call to minister. In 1894 he and about 20 others went to a revival meeting and were revived by the Holy Spirit with a Second Blessing. They returned to visit their preacher at the Union Missionary Baptist Church to exhort him to preach the revival doctrine and were given the "Left Foot of Fellowship".

After being asked to leave they went down the road to buy a piece of land and built a beautiful white clapboard building and a cemetery across the road. (I have the records.) I am returning "home" in March to be with my friends in that church as they celebrate a new construction project.

I dedicated one of my latest books How to be Me in My Family Tree to the people in that photo.Nancy Dempsey's photo is below.

My Generational Heritage

I recently wrote a book on the biblical approach to family of origin counseling. I dedicated it to my Great Grandfather John Thomas Dempsey and his Wife Belle McKinney Dempsey and Daughter Nancy Ann Dempsey Taylor and family. Their photos are below. Mom Dempsey Taylor was about ten so this was probably taken in 1905.

In March the New Hope Free Will Baptist Church will have a reunion and I am driving back to Ina, Illinois to join the festivities. My Great Grandparents were charter members in 1894 and their daughter was a tiny baby.

Grand Dad Dempsey was ordained and became one of the early Pastors of New Hope Church. Here is his picture with other Free Will Baptists at Tamaroa, IL conference. He is in the third row from the bottom five men from the left.

Grand Dad Dempsey with one of the congregations he Pastored. 

What is Love?

Fruit of the Spirit!