Memories to Share

I have been accused of repeating some of my favorite family stories too often. The truth is that with each passing year those stories become more important to me and I want my children and grandchildren to hear them and remember them. Each of the stories reveal something of our lives and experiences. Some of them are filled with humorous moments and others speak of loss and grief experienced along the way. When we share stories of our lives and family, we create family traditions and family folklore. At family gatherings, one person may begin a conversation with "Do ya'll remember when . . . ?"

But do we also share the stories that relate how God has worked and moved in our lives? In several locations in the Bible, God instructed people to tell their children and grandchildren what God had done so that each generation might be aware of God's continual work and provision for every generation.

When Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan River, God told Joshua to have twelve men gather twelve stones from the river. God had parted the water of the Jordan so that the Israelites could cross over on dry land. They were to take the twelve stones to their campsite for that night and build a memorial. In Joshua 4:21-24, Joshua told the people what God had given him to say.

"And Joshua said to the people of Israel, 'When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children

know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried

up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples

of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear

the Lord your God forever."

There are numerous other times when they were to tell the next generation of God's blessings and miracles so that the next generation might know and then tell the following generation. Stone markers often reminded them of where God had blessed or delivered them from an enemy. Passover became a way of telling the story of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Bible is filled with accounts of God's activity that was to be shared with future generations.

While we share many of our life experiences with our children and grandchildren, do we also share how God was at work in our lives? Too often we overlook how God has been working in our lives in the course of the usual and sometimes the unusual occurrences. Why did you move to different cities? Was God leading in those moves? When you were very sick and there was concern about whether you would live, how was God involved in your healing? How have you prayed for your children and grandchildren through the years? Are they aware of you praying for them? In difficult situations, have they seen you demonstrate a patient and Christlike response to others? Do they know that what is desirable to be copied in your life is a result of Christ's presence in your life? Do they know when you were saved?

There are many stories we could relate to our children and grandchildren about the love of God and His provision in our lives if we would tell those stories. While we probably won't be gathering stones to stack in our front yards, we can pass on to future generations the wonderful ways God has moved in our lives. From generation to generation the love of God and the hope that is available only through Jesus Christ must be shared.

The stories of family lore are important, but even more important is the truth of God and His gifts of grace and mercy that have been experienced in our lives. Share your memories that your next generation will know.