Yesterday, while I walked through the park, I paused for a minute. I wanted to appreciate the effort of those who took their time to plant the trees around. I have visited this park on separate occasions and under various weather conditions. The beauty is that whenever the sun is scorching, mostly during the summer, people take shade from under these trees. You see kids playing, parents lying down, etc. So today, I decided to pause and thank the people who took the time to plant the trees.
You can recall a time you had to stand under a tree during hot weather or a downpour. The person who planted the tree looked forward to the years ahead and saw the benefits the tree could provide for future generations. So, whenever you chance upon one, do ask God to bless them.
In this post, I would consider a much broader point from the above scenario. God has gifted us with the strength and wisdom to make decisions in our lives that will impact future generations. Think about this for a moment. Compare doing homework or an assignment for yourself or a kid in the early 2000s and in 2025. Think about how you walk to the library to get a book, to research, to write, etc. Now think about how things have changed, especially with AI. Google was great until we had all these AI tools to make life easier. We have seen these changes and improvements because people decided to sacrifice their lives so that future generations will benefit.
A friend once told me about Samuel Harris Altman, who was born in 1985. Altman is the same age as him. He (probably) went through the same challenges with doing homework and assignments. But the difference between Altman and him is that Altman chose to do things that would benefit millions of people. He sacrificed his life to work on a worthy cause. I told him that “you may not be Altman to help develop and promote AI, but there is something you can do to benefit the next generation.”
Oftentimes, we look down upon ourselves when we think about the fact that we cannot be the champion of the next massive thing. We perceive this in the wrong way. There is something you can do regardless of your situation and/or circumstances. For example, if you donate to a charity, you are helping to feed children abroad. These children suffer from sickness, diseases, and hunger. This action preserves a future generation. You are saving them from what will shorten their lives, and that is a good thing.
Whenever you drive safely and prevent an accident, it is a good thing. If you can donate blood to save a life, it is a good thing. If you are taking care of yourself so that you live long to give your family a better life and a hope for a brighter future, it is a good thing.
Today, even as you read this post, you can do something that will benefit future generations. I have always prayed to God to help me. I would say that I may not be Elon to facilitate transportation to Mars, but I can put a smile on the beggar on the street. I can pay school fees for the kids of my neighbor who is struggling. I can provide an opportunity for someone to better himself or herself.
The person(s) who planted the trees did what they could at the time. It might have been 5 years, 10 years, or even 25 years ago. But here we are, benefiting from their works.
I cannot end this without mentioning how God saw you in Jesus before the foundation of the world. Jesus Christ sacrificed His precious life so that we can have salvation. He did it so that you and I would not have to spend money on buying goats, sheep, cows, etc., to atone for our sins. He did it so that we can have extraordinary miracles that no human mind can understand. He did it so that through the power in His name, we can have all we ask from God. Now, since God created you in His image and likeness, you have this inherent nature. Do not judge yourself by the size of what you can do. Instead, look at the big heart of love in you to do things that will last to benefit people long after you are gone. God bless you.
Uplifting Christ 