Family Historians

“The death of an old person is like the loss of a library.”- African proverb

When we are young, our parents and grandparents often enlighten us with tales and fables  that teach life lessons.  When they share their own real-life experiences they also teach us the invaluable lessons of our own history.  Simple storytelling is one of the most effective ways to pass the gift of wisdom from one generation to another.

In our family, any gathering leads to storytelling by my parents and my surviving uncles.  We sit back, listen and enjoy their real-life adventures as the Depression-era children of immigrants.  The most precious of those stories focus on my grandparents arriving in America and making their way in a new country, proudly becoming citizens, raising large families in times of unimaginable economic devastation, and striving always to ensure better lives for their children.  Each time I hear one of these stories, I am overwhelmed by their strength, humility, perseverance, and ingenuity.  As often as I have heard these stories I never tire of them; I always take away a new lesson.  And I come away with renewed love and respect – and with the certain realization that I come from sturdy stock, and I am expected to continue my family’s history.

We have a responsibility to encourage our elderly family members to share their stories.  Starting a family history can be as simple as asking a grandparent, “What did it feel like when….?”  You might be surprised how many precious memories are evoked when we show simple and respectful curiosity.  We should record these stories so that they will be preserved and accessible for generations to come. Many families document their family histories in written journals; others use audio or visual technologies.

If our family stories are not recorded, they will vanish from our lives – and our own histories will be diminished.  And our elderly family members need to share the real-life wisdom they have gained, the history of their predecessors, and their cherished traditions.  When we memorialize our family legends, we are giving our rising generation the most precious legacy we can bestow.

So this Christmas, after the stockings are emptied and the gifts unwrapped, take the time to tell your family’s stories.  You won’t regret it.

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