Family Heirlooms

I have learned the secret of living in every situation.

Philippians 4:12, NLT

I grew up in an era when as a little girl, I looked forward to the time when I would inherit precious family heirlooms. As the eldest daughter, I knew the day would come when I would be given my grandmother’s cut glass bowls, my mom’s anniversary vases, or perhaps my great-grandmother’s china. It was a rite of passage and the age-old tradition meant that family pieces, usually obtained at some great sacrifice or expense, would be looked after from one generation to the next.

As expected, I did receive my share of those handed-down collectibles and enjoyed them fully for many years. But recently I discovered something disconcerting.

Nobody wants my precious things.

It seems styles have changed. The treasured cut glass bowls would just take up space, my children tell me, and what can you use them for anyway, since they’re not microwavable? And you can’t put Great Grandma’s china in the dishwasher. I was heartbroken.

So, if my children do not want these things, what remembrances can I leave them from my generation and those before me? What keepsakes do I have which are not in the china cabinet?

What we must hand down to them, is the open sharing of our life experiences, particularly how we have seen the hand of God in our lives—how we have been able to endure gut-wrenching trials through our trust in Jesus—things we probably never spoke about before. As adults, they can comprehend, and better appreciate their parents’ life journeys. They have grown-up trials of their own. And the knowledge of how we managed our predicaments and sorrows, with God’s help, can bring courage and strength for today, as well as the future.

Perhaps sharing our weak moments and in some cases, grief or painful experiences can be of more value than a cut glass bowl, more timeless than a set of china—handing down a source of strength to our adult children.

Linda Nottingham lives in Florida, USA