Category: Family Stories

So that…I will tell

Do you ever remember when you were too excited to wait…to wait for what is best?

When I was a child I never liked to wait.  No I was in too big a hurry to wait for mom.  We were at a swimming pool, one I had never been to before and I could not wait to go swim.  I should have waited, but I hurried out of the women’s changing area and started down the steps on the side of the pool.  Too late I realized I was not in the “kiddie” section.  I remember going down…down…and pushing up and gasping for air and trying to yell for help.  The next thing I remember water was gushing out my mouth and I was coughing, as I regained conscienceness.

Why?  Why didn’t I wait…why didn’t God stop me?

Or better question…why did God save me?

When bad things happen we tend to question…why???  We should ask why for the good, as well as, the bad.  Why has God allowed this to happen?  Is it for my sake only…for my personal benefit or is there more…a greater reason?  Has God allowed both the good and the bad in my life…

…so that I will recognize His sovereignty and praise Him?

…so that I will recognize His provision and thank Him?

…so that I will tell others of God’s work and bring glory to Him?

…But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,

And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,

That they may arise and tell them to their children,

That they should put their confidence in God

And not forget the works of God,

But keep His commandments

 Psalm 78:4,6,7

 

Family Stories

“The single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative”. Bruce Feiler1394259_1410923872472593_1694787658_n

I read this in a tweet several months ago.  I was challenged by it.  You see I was never very good with telling stories.  When my daughter would ask me to tell a family story, my mind would go blank.  I couldn’t think of anything to share, not just anything funny or exciting…just not anything.  So sad.

I went on to read the NYT column this quote came out of…

“Decades of research have shown that most happy families communicate effectively. But talking doesn’t mean simply “talking through problems,” as important as that is. Talking also means telling a positive story about yourselves. When faced with a challenge, happy families, like happy people, just add a new chapter to their life story that shows them overcoming the hardship. 

The bottom line: if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family’s positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. That act alone may increase the odds that your family will thrive for many generations to come.”

Now I am really convicted…I NEED to learn to tell family stories.  So I have a plan

Step one: Remember-think back through the years, look at family photo albums

Step two: Write down-record notes, short stories in a journal

Step three: Share it-at a family gathering, letter, in a blog 🙂

Ok that doesn’t sound too hard.

But is does sound familiar…like something I have read before. It seems this “groundbreaking” research is proving what God has said along.  God knew it was important for His children to know their family narrative.

But watch out!  Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. 

Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live!

And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 

Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT