Beth Sanders asked:


When I was a kid, all we had to do was walk across the street to go visit grandma and grandpa. In fact, grandpa had a barber shop on our street, Loveland Avenue, where I got my haircut. The barber shop had hundreds of Old Farmer’s Almanacs on a big table and usually two or three men (who, I might add, came in with no hair and went out with no hair), sitting around and chatting with grandpa as he worked away. Grandma could usually be found in the backyard weeding the flower beds, in the kitchen baking a cake, or upstairs sewing something. For some reason, even a bowl of cereal tasted better at grandma’s house. On Saturday night, we watched Lawrence Welk together and on Sunday morning we all sat together in church—always in the 2nd pew back on the left hand side.

            My grandparents taught me many things in their quiet, humble way. Looking back, here are some of the things my grandparents taught me about the Christian faith from their life stories. These things also apply to

Psalm 71: 14-18

But as for me, I will always have hope;

       I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteousness,

       of your salvation all day long,

       though I know not its measure.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;

       I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,

       and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

       do not forsake me, O God,

       till I declare your power to the next generation,

       your might to all who are to come.

 It’s about the people in one’s life. Many people are savoring the opportunity to capture what they remember about the generations who came before them. They want to not just tell their own story, but the story of people who never had the chance to tell their own. Their parents or grandparents lived through tough times and persevered nonetheless. One LifeBio writer said that the process reminded her of all the love she had experienced in her life from her parents and grandparents.

            It’s about saying, “If I did it, so can you.” We all know people in our families who have lived through very difficult and complicated times. They have been affected by the Depression, wars, the civil rights movement, and just the everyday trials of daily life. It’s helpful and inspiring to know that, despite difficulties, they persevered and made it through. With their strength and inspiration, we can make it too.

            It’s also about giving advice and passing on values. People recording their life stories have a chance to answer challenging questions that help them share things like get a good education, follow your faith, work hard, and keep your commitments. Plus, people’s words of love to their families practically jump off the page.

            It’s about a journey of self discovery. Where have you come from? What have you learned? What’s next in your life? We see the “big picture” when we look back and reflect. This helps clarify where we’re going next and helps to direct our path.

 How I wish my children could cross the street to their grandparents’ house. Today it’s not uncommon for grandparents to be states or countries away from their grandchildren. They may have retired in a distant place, or, perhaps, college or work caused younger family members to relocate. Even if we aren’t right around the corner from each other, there are still many ways that grandparents can impact their children and grandchildren through making a conscious effort to tell and share life stories.

What should you do when your children or grandchildren are moving away from the family’s tradition of Christian beliefs?

A 2007 Barna Group study finds that only 63% of Americans ages 18-41 identify as Christian whereas that number is 77% for people ages 61+. The continuing shift in the trend points to perceptions that young people have toward Christianity. Although some 16-29 year olds surveyed saw Christianity as having good values and principles and a friendly and respected faith, negative perceptions were that Christianity is judgmental, hypocritical, and old fashioned.

So how do you communicate to your son or daughter or grandchildren that you feel the Christian faith should not be rejected? How do you overcome those negative perceptions and help them see that Christianity is relevant for your life and for their lives today? Here are four things that should be part of your faith story:

1)      Record on paper who the people are who shaped your faith. Demonstrate that following Christ has been your family’s heritage for hundreds (if not thousands) of years and rejecting the family’s beliefs should not be taken lightly. Tell them about your parents and why the Bible was important to them. Write down on paper for your children and grandchildren the fact that their great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers were followers of the Christ too. Perhaps your family history shows that relatives migrated to America to escape persecution and gain the right to worship Christ in their own way. Give them the gift of your family’s faith history.  

2)      Record in writing how you came to believe. Was there a memorable moment when you accepted Christ—either as a youth or as an adult? What questions did you have and what answers did you find to your doubts? What Christian songs or hymns were or are your favorites? How did you experience God’s love as a young person? Why was Jesus someone you wanted to follow then and now? Perhaps you’ve shared your faith background before with your Bible study or your Sunday School class, but it’s critically important to share your testimony with your own family too.

3)      Write down situations where you’ve seen God working in your life—in good times and bad times. It’s important for your family to see that your life has been profoundly different because you experienced more love, more hope, and more peace as a follower of Jesus Christ. You see the beauty of the earth as God’s incredible creation, and you see your children as beautifully and wonderfully made too. You’ve had a special purpose that you’ve fulfilled through the years, with God’s direction. You’ve had very tough times and somehow you’ve felt God’s presence as a constant source of strength. Perhaps their lives have been impacted because you have prayed for them and seen the prayers be answered (sometimes in a way you didn’t expect of course).

4)      Capture wisdom and truth, from your own unique perspective. It’s time to show that the Bible is truly the book of life and “The Great Story” and the Gospel, or Good News. Share your favorite scriptures and explain why you like these passages so much. Relate the Biblical story to your own story in a real way so they may realize the importance of God’s word to the Christian faith. The Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and Jesus’ commandment to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself are good ways to live our lives today. These are not “old fashioned” ideas but radical ideas in a world where hate and evil are real. Make sure you make it clear that you love them and God loves them too.  

Telling them about why you believe is one way to pass along your thoughts, but recording it in a lasting way on paper may be a better and more lasting approach. After all, the Bible is the very best example of a recorded legacy that explains our Jewish roots, the life of Jesus Christ, and the life of early Christians. If it had not been written down, it would have been lost or forgotten. The same is true for your own faith story.

© 2007 by Beth Sanders www.lifebio.com. Permission to reprint if left intact.

 

 

 

 



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