H-Heirlooms-Amy Grant

H-Heirlooms-Amy Grant

This song is a precious one to me because it focuses on two precious things to me: Jesus and family.

Grant begins the song by recounting memories of loved ones as she goes through her attic, seeing photos and letters from years gone by.

I come from a small immediate family, so being apart of a great church community has expand my definition of family. Many of them have loved and supported me through victories, failures, and hard times of life. In serving on mission trips to various foreign countries, (Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Uganda), many of the people I came to serve became family to me. The church to me is not just one place to worship, it is a collection of people from across the world united to make Jesus known. However, more than that, they are family to me.

I have a shoebox filled with encouraging letters from these people. The letter my dad wrote me as I went off to college. Letters from my pastors as I turned 18. These letters mean the world to me when I am down and depressed, or just need a pick me up.

Grant says in the chorus

“And all that I live for

And all that I'm going to be

My precious family

Is more than an heirloom to me”

Thank you to all my family across the world for being the hands and feet of Jesus to me, being the church to me.

Grant continues by recounting the Christmas story of the wisemen and shepherds kneeling down at the feet of Jesus. Some of them gave treasures, some of them just gave an offering of praise.

When I met Jesus and truly encountered him in that New York church over twenty years ago, everything changed for me. All the stories I heard growing up in church became more than just stories, they pointing me to the true source of life, Jesus. I found meaning and purpose in life beyond what I could describe or imagine.

I can agree with Grant that

“Time never changes the memory

The moment His love first pierced through me

Telling all that I come from

And all that I live for

And all that I'm going to be

My precious Savior

Is more than an heirloom to me”

Some of you may not have great memories of your family. Fights, arguments remain prevalent in your mind. Also some of you may have been hurt by the church, wounding you from encountering Jesus. I am sorry to all of you have had to go through that pain, baggage, and heartache. The church has failed you, and has not been the church in action. I urge you to still seek after this Jesus, and let you be open to him changing you from the inside out.

To those of us who have precious memories of church and family, let us not be so blinded by our memories, that we fail to see the needs of the world around us. May we show people that Jesus is more than just a heirloom, a part of history, but the source that gives us life beyond what we can hope or imagine. He is the God who stays and seeks after us in our joy and our defeat.

So wherever you find yourself, seek after Jesus with everything you got. In seeking after Him,even in pain, difficulty, or loss, may you find family in the church to support and uplift you. I am there for you, and many across the world are there for you. Just call on us whatever the hour, and we will be there for you.

May family and Jesus become more than just a heirloom to you today.