My grandma is known for her
spaghetti sauce and scrumptious salads. Friends and family adore her time in
the kitchen spent simmering a batch on the stove, which perfectly accompanies
all the fresh, colorful vegetables cut just the right size to fit in your mouth,
smothered in her homemade dressing. It is a staple to our family and our kind of
comfort food. I grew up with my mama's yummy, mastered version of the sauce and
now that we are grown, each of my sisters and I have learned the recipe,
putting our own twists on it, respectfully. And they are all quite tasty but truth
be told, there is nothing like grandma's spaghetti and salad. I am sure it has
to do with all the love she puts in it as she stirs and chops and the years she
has to put in to perfect it.
Recipes and traditions and sayings
and mannerisms span generations. Generations of the same last name and the same
way the Christmas tree is decorated and how the Thanksgiving turkey is prepared
continue to span over space and time.
The old Testament is scattered
with generations and monuments of days long past and the stories and miracles
behind them continued to be told long after they occurred. And the sole purpose
of the monuments? To tell of the greatness of God.
After Joshua leads the Israelites
in to the promised land, God instructs him to have twelve men from the tribes of
Israel to pick up stones from the Jordan River, which they had just crossed
over on dry land, to make a monument (Joshua 3-4). And I love how it states the
reason directly after:
He did this so that all the peoples of the
earth might know that the hand
of the Lord is powerful and
so that you might always fear the Lord your God. Joshua 4:24
The entire purpose of the
monument and miracle was for everyone to know the power of God and that they
may fear him and then Joshua five starts off with how kings from the
surrounding areas "hearts melted and they no longer had courage to face [them]."
People heard about what God had
done and feared him. They saw what He was capable of doing. And our testimonies
have the same power and purpose - to turn others to God and His glory. When we
fail to share our testimonies, especially between generations in a family,
there is a loss of wonder and awe in the almighty God. A loss of the
tangibility and closeness of God's ever constant provision and guidance and
healing power.
Praying that you would empty
yourself of any pride or fear or worry and focus on bringing glory to God
through your story. That you would share it when the time arises with whomever
God leads you to. That you would have your monuments out on display for others
to see the powerful God we serve.
Here's to generations and telling and glory.