the wilt way

Most tasks require you to follow strict instructions to finish well. That’s not how my life works. I was working on a house project and I just couldn’t get anything to work. Have you ever had that happen? I just wanted to have the process be smooth and easy. It wasn’t! I gave up trying to do it the right way and decided, just like a two year old, I’ll do it MYSELF. Exasperated, I looked at my husband, Bryce and said, “I am not doing this the way it is to be done, but you know, I will make it work. I always do. Where there’s a will there’s a way.” Without missing a beat, he responded, “No, where there’s a Wilt there’s a way.” This was funny. Very funny. Because I’m a Wilt through and through.

We are known for making it happen despite all odds. We can always find a work around. And we are usually stubborn enough to not stop until we do. It seems to be a trait so strong in our family, that we only marry people who have the same mindset. This is our family line. Hard workers who just won’t quit. I get it honestly.

Four Generations Of Wilts

Generations of people have proudly taken photos and recorded family lines. My family is no different. Here are 4 generations of Wilts - my great grandfather, grandfather, father and oldest brother.

Are you fascinated with four or five generation photos? I am. Seeing the generational representation and the sheer volume of years shown in one glimpse is incredible. The family lines shown in these photos give us a picture of the greats that come before us. It shows us the eccentrics and the non-conformists.

My grandfather, Roy was a nonconformist. Illegally, at the age of 14, Roy joined the Army and served for three years. He was out of the Army before most kids today decide which of their passions to pursue. After losing his first wife and child during childbirth, Roy married my grandmother. Their marriage wasn’t perfect and Roy was clearly impacted by the hardness of his life. He weathered the hard times and he got through it because where there’s a Wilt there’s a way. This is a part of the Wilt family line.

Family lines reveal the character traits of our family members. They tell us who we come from and impact who we are. Throughout the Bible, we see family lines and lists of lineage like this one found in Matthew 1.

 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon...

We even see God’s promise to Abraham about this family line.

As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. - Genesis 17:4-7

God’s promise to Abraham influenced his family line. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad was a part of that line. Joseph could be a father to Jesus on earth looking back to Abraham and seeing how God helped him and shaped his character. Our family lines - our lineage - help us understand who we are and how we can love our own children.

Through our families we can see how God works. Have you ever traced your family line? Have you ever heard your Dad’s story about his father? Have you ever asked your brother why he looked up to grandpa? These are men who built our families. The men who had to take chances, bend the rules and make it work. They are the ones with a will to find a way.

As we head into Father’s Day, let’s work to honor our dads for who they are, respect where they came from, and give them the gift of learning about their family line.

Searching for wisdom and asking for grace,

Jody