Tell the Stories

"I will remember the deeds oft he Lord; yes, I will
remember Your miracles of long ago."
Psalm 77:11 NIV

(Original Post: Thursday, March 5, 2009)

Last week we buried my grandfather. He was 99 years old. As the family gathered for his home-going celebration, I learned things about him I didn’t know. My grandparents owned two grain elevators in the small town of Kaw City, Oklahoma. Winters were often harsh there, and November of 1936 was no exception. An ice storm had crippled the city, freezing streets, sidewalks and water pipes when the unthinkable happened. A huge fire erupted. Volunteer fire fighters rushed to the scene, but quickly gave up the fight when conditions seemed insurmountable. Not easily dissuaded, my “Gramps” and one other man risked their lives, climbing rickety alley stairs to tackle the fire from the inside of the buildings. They prevailed and were credited with saving the town. I wish I could have heard the entire story from his lips while he was still alive, instead of a mere summary of it at his funeral!

How many times are great stories gone forever because they aren’t passed on to the next generation? When the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, God instructed Moses to have a member of each tribe take a rock from the bed of the river...the rock was to serve as a reminder of all the miracles God had performed for the people. Every time they saw the rock, they were to tell their children and their children’s children what God had done - so the miracles would never be forgotten. 

We’ve all experienced miracles and seen answers to prayer. They are a part of our story...our story of faith. If God wanted the Israelites to keep their stories alive...He surely wants us to do the same thing today. Why? Because the stories of miracles give hope to believe and to trust.

Take time to remember what God has done in your life...and tell those stories to your children...over and over again. As they hear of God’s faithfulness in your life, it gives your children tangible reasons to believe. 

God, there have been times I prayed with only a mustard seed-sized faith...and You answered me anyway. Help me remember the precious things You’ve done in my life that will be faith-builders to my children like they’ve been to me. Give me the words to share and grant my children ears to truly hear them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.