Tuesday Tidbit: Your stories can shape your family’s history

The Bible urges us to tell our children and grandchildren our stories—because God knows how influential stories can be. Just look at the way He uses stories in the Bible—it’s full of stories. Why? Because they are so powerful!

Stories sculpt us,

define us,

enlarge our hearts,

save us,

and help us figure out why we were born. 

Your stories are important, perhaps more than you realize.

We all know stories have shaped history. And your stories can shape the history of your family, one person at a time.

Your stories can offer inspiration,

encourage peace and joy and hope,

demonstrate courage and integrity,

introduce readers to God’s love,

and strengthen their faith.

Your kids and grandkids and great-grandkids need to know your stories—stories of success and struggle, even failure. Your stories can help others learn from your hard lessons.

Bruce Feiler writes:

“…Dr. Duke said that

children who have the most self-confidence

have…a strong ‘intergenerational self.’

They know they belong to

something bigger than themselves….

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.”

(emphasis mine; 

click on The stories that bind us

to read the whole article.)

Write your stories!