Daily Devotionals

Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life

Devotional: July 21st

Wouldn't it be nice to be related to someone famous? According to all the family legends and the way back ties, my family in Ireland were direct descendants of King Miletious of the Celts. Of course, they ate the people they conquered and were basically known as being well down the evolutionary ladder. However, my grandfather did tell me, on several occasions, that the famous clown, Emmet Kelly, was a distant relative. When I would ask how distant, Pawpaw would wink and say, "Way out in California, I think."

Several stars are related to each other. Actress Holly Hunter is a cousin of baseball player Tim Salmon. Actor William Hurt's ex-wife (wow, there's a surprise, an actor with an ex) Heidi is the daughter of TV band leader Skitch Henderson. Actress Anjelica Huston (this one is a bit of a reach) was the half-sister-in-law of actress Virginia Madsen. My personal favorite is Matt Dillon. His great uncles were both cartoonists. Uncle Alex Raymond created "Flash Gordon" and "Jungle Jim" while Uncle Jim Raymond drew "Blondie" for Chic Young for forty years.

Some celebrities have really famous family members. Actress/dancer Ginger Rogers's grandmother on her mother's side was a descendant of George Washington. Ginger's aunt also married Rita Hayworth's uncle. Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln share a common relative in Lincoln's great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison. Meanwhile, Tom Hanks is on the other side of "Honest Abe's" lineage as he is a direct descendant of Abe's mother, Nancy Hanks.

Over the years I have known, or known of, various people who have laid claim to the lineages of famous people or who have married into famous families. It basically provides bragging rights and fodder for conversation during parties. What about we Christians? Have we seriously thought out our current family status? We are a part of a family that is not just famous but very tied to the ongoing providential care of the world as well as its origins. As part of that family we have some rather attractive benefits.

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then and heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:4-7 Need I say anything more?