From the Home Place

August 23, 2025

Yep, I’m so old that I can remember life without a computer, or a microwave, or a telephone. Shoot, I’m so old I can remember life without a television. Yet, life was so much simpler then. If we needed something from town, we waited until Saturday; the day for taking cream and eggs to town to sell, do the banking, go see family members and friends, and get any groceries that we couldn’t raise for ourselves.

Saturday night was made for taking the whole family to a country dance. While there, we would often share sandwiches and dessert with everyone else there, while visiting about events of our lives. Us kids would dance right alongside of our parents, that is until we would all tucker out and then we would pile up on homemade quilts in a corner of the dance hall. I reckon we looked like a batch of new-born calves laying on fresh straw. Just before daylight, our parents would gather us up, load all of us in an old pickup and make the trip home. We often returned home just in time to do morning chores.

For Sunday lunch our little ranch house would fill with company. Hugs, laughter and plenty of good food. One of my favorite parts of Sunday after lunch (that is after I helped with washing dishes) was to sit and listen to the older adults tell stories. Stories about when they were younger. Stories about great and difficult times alike. Stories about each individual life. To this day I can still recall some of those amazing moments of walking down life’s road with those dear ‘ol folks.

It seems to me that it really was God’s plan all along that we share stories of life with those around us. You see, with TV, computers, cell phones and a “better” way of life, we have stopped telling the stories. We have substituted hearing and telling stories, for living our lives quietly hidden away within our homes, staring at pretend people on a screen while we wait for our life to end.

As Joshua instructed the men of Israel to tell the stories of what God had done for them, we too need to be telling the stories of God’s loving works within our lives. Our children need to hear biblical stories not just from the Bible, but also from their family members who are living the Bible.

The best stories begin with the phrase, “I remember when…” God gives us a life to walk with Him, and to tell others about our journey.

Telling life stories with you, Neal

“I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.” (Hymn by Catherine Hankey & William Fischer)

“I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord.” (Ps.118:17)