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Listen while you read: "Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above"1
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Trouble was brewing in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States in the late 1800s. It all started with a dispute over the ownership of a hog. Reprisal and retribution spiralled out of control and seemed endless, and over a span of about 20 years, more than a dozen members of two vengeful families were dead. This ongoing feud caught the attention and imagination of the whole country. The Hatfields and McCoys became a caricature for moonshine-swilling, trigger-happy, illiterate hillbillies.
The head of the Hatfield clan, "Devil Anse" (so nicknamed because it was said that he was supposedly so strong and fierce that he could take on the devil himself), had been adamantly anti-church all his life. He must have had a change of heart as an old man, however, because it is reported that he was baptized in the river when he was around age 70. This action also helped to bring the feuding to a halt.
Imagine my surprise when — in tracing my own family roots — I discovered that I have a great-grandmother about six generations back named Pharibah Hatfield. She was something like a great-aunt of Devil Anse, so yes, I do have traces of Hatfield blood running in my veins!
I find this somewhat sensational family connection to be interesting, but so what if I'm connected to the scandalous Hatfield clan? All families have their share of scoundrels and scallawags along with the saints. I wonder, though — had I lived during that time, would I have wanted to distance myself from the infamous clan? Two of Devil Anse's cousins did just that and moved across the country, coincidentally settling in the small logging community in Washington state where — many years later — I grew up. As a parallel in today's highly secular world, when the Christian faith is ridiculed, do we tend to distance ourselves from it by trying to hide our faith?
Best of all, Scripture assures us that our new life in Christ truly gives us a new heritage. Each one of us is no longer bound by genetic restraints, but has God-given power to become a new person whose old way of life has been washed clean.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! (TLB)
Will you — will I — choose to embrace our new life in Christ, refusing to be defined by our old way of life? Let us move onward and upward in our life of faith, seeking to pass on godly attributes as well as physical likenesses to our children.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, how grateful we are to be called Your children. May we receive Your power to live a life worthy of this claim and bring honour to the family name. Amen.
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About the author:
Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Send your feedback to the author
Thank you, Gail! Every family has a skeleton or two in the closet. This makes us human and real to reach other. Blessings.
Enjoyed hearing about your ancestors and changes that came about because of one person saying yes to Jesus. Thanks for sharing.
Good morning, Gail.
What an interesting story, and what good applicable words.
Blessings.
Gail, great story and relevant application for all Jesus followers! Thanks for writing your interesting history. I am related to Adam and Eve who made a lot of trouble.
Thanks, Gail, for this very interesting and most meaningful devotional today. When we choose to follow our Lord’s ways and be considered “His children” what a better life we have than choosing the ways of unruly people. Blessings for these very special writings you deliver.
Good morning, Gail,
I was wondering where the devotional was going to lead me. It is so true that we don’t have to be a certain way and with God’s inspiration we can work towards being the new person He has designed for us.
It is interesting that Anse being baptised helped to end the feud. If Anse turned his life around, that is hope for us all.
Thanks for encouraging us that even if we aren’t where we want to be yet, we can be like Anse and change. Blessings.
Gail, I love this bit of family history and how you tie it into a lesson for us.
Thank you, Gail, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Sadly nearly all families have their skeletons rattling around in their ancestry. Blessings.
Dear Gail,
Your personal story is so interesting! Yes, it is wonderful and challenging to be part of the family of God.
Many thanks for your contributions.
Hi Gail,
I recently learned about the Scottish Reivers. I had never heard this term before but soon learned that they were the ones responsible for such terms as “blackmail”.
Through reading his stories I learned that one of my family surnames is listed as part of the Border Reivers. Its surprising how one learns these things.
I enjoyed reading your devotional besides the fact that it brought to memory a little of my family background.