Last Christmas I received a unique gift from Pete and Heather. It’s called STORYWORTH. Once a week a question arrives in my email inbox - I spend time during the week answering the question and at the end of this year my weekly stories will be bound into a beautiful keepsake book.

The questions are varied - like - Do you have any particular vivid memories of your grandparents? or Did you ever take any great road trips? or What is one of your favourite holiday memories?

A few weeks ago my question for the week was - Do you believe in miracles? I answered that question with an absolute - yes - and proceeded to write about a few miracles that I have witnessed in my life.

I wrote about three of them - the first miracle involving a missionary family from Africa - the second miracle that happened to Randy and the third one - about a pastor’s family we knew of. This is what I wrote…..

“We had friends from Bible College who testified that this happened in their lives. I can’t remember their names. One beautiful Sunday afternoon, the family - the dad and mom and two of their three sons went for a drive. The grandmother, auntie and their third son were in the car just ahead of them. The whole family out enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon. It would soon turn quickly to a horrific event.

We’ll never know why or how the accident happened - whether the women were listening to music - chatting and not paying attention - whether the air conditioning in the car was on and the windows were up - but they didn’t notice a railway crossing and drove right onto the tracks - at the same time that a train was speeding through - their car was pushed several metres down the track and it was crushed.

Our friends watched in horror. They rushed out of their car and ran down the side of the tracks to where the grandmother’s car was. They were devastated to find that the grandmother and auntie had been killed instantly and that there was no sign of their son. His carseat was empty. They raced up and down the tracks searching for their boy. By now, many people had gathered and joined in the search - as well as the train staff. Everyone was looking for their son.

Someone yelled to come back to the damaged car. There - strapped into his carseat was their son. He was there now - but hadn’t been there minutes before.

He was only three years old but he told his parents - “just before the train hit the car, Jesus took me out of my carseat and then put me back in when it was safe.” That statement was reported in the Toronto Star!

A few days after I had written that account of the miracle, Indigo and I were driving somewhere and I told her the story of the little boy and what a miracle it was. She was intrigued.

Interestingly, the other night at supper, out of the blue, Indy said, “Grammie - tell everyone the story of the little boy that Jesus saved!” I started into the story but she finished it. She knew every detail. She will never forget it.

It reminded me of the importance of sharing my experiences with my children and grandchildren because there will come a time when I’m not here anymore. That’s the reality of life.

When Zac and Pete and I were walking the Camino - I shared stories of my childhood - memories of growing up - especially about my brothers, who I was closest to in age.

Bill High says - “In our western world, we tend to think about the here and now - the immediate. It’s so much about job, career and taking the next step. There was a time, however, when people used to think beyond themselves. They had to think about generations - the people that would come behind them. Farmers would clear a field with the consideration that their children would farm it. Modern North Americans tend to consider themselves and the lives they are presently living.”

That’s opposite to what God says in the Bible - He spoke in terms of generations! Way back in Genesis it says “And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you - for perpetual generations.” Further along in the Old Testament it says - “And the Lord said to Jehu - because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” Joel said “tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.” In the book of the Psalms - I love this verse - “One generation shall commend Your works to another.”

I love these verses that show me God’s character. He is the Lord of history, the Ancient of Days, the One who weaves together the story of individuals, generations and nations into His eternal purpose.

My Mom was so good at sharing stories of her childhood and youth and married life. She told the stories to us kids and to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Often, when we are together at reunions, someone often quotes a saying or story that my Mom shared.

It’s what I want. It’s what I seek to do. Live and work in ways that will long outlive me - building a legacy of good for those who come behind me.

Everyone has a story - sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes ugly - but it’s your story. Tell it to the next generation.