Our young lives were filled with stories. Family stories and adventures. My grandmother was a great storyteller and our Dad told stories at our supper table. Stories of his travels and adventures during WWII.

Our grandmother told of our grandfather in WWI. How he suffered in the trenches in France. Disease. Rats. Dead bodies. Things too terrible to speak of. He came home, married, and started farming. They survived the Great Depression. They did not lose their land and home. They worked hard, made many sacrifices, and survived.

Our Dad was so young when drafted into service. He served in the Navy. They were tasked with protecting the merchant marine until the war was won in Europe. He would tell of a night on guard duty when the storms were so bad the waves were washing over the bow of the ship. He had to tie himself to the ship’s railing in order not to be washed overboard.

After the war was won in Europe, he served in the Pacific on a tanker ship. He talked about a typhoon they experienced. He would always tell us they didn’t know if they were above or under the water for three days. It was so dark and stormy.

Every family has its own back story. The hardships, the success, the adventure their ancestors experienced. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. As my Dad would say, “Make the way for those coming behind you.”

And isn’t this true for our spiritual family? Haven’t our spiritual ancestors given us broad shoulders to stand on? We stand on the shoulders of Abraham, Jacob, Paul, Peter, James, St Augustine, Martin Luther, DL Moody, Mordecai Ham, Billy Graham. Haven’t they gone before us and made the way? Their faith did not fail.

As children in the family of God, we have the best family stories. Our spiritual ancestors were flawed, imperfect, lovers of God. Tell our family stories. Make the way for the next generation of Believers. Give them your shoulders to stand on.