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A sweet cyber-friend Sandra Heska King (SandraHeskaKing.com) posted an article a few months ago as she linked up with Glynnis Whitwer (GlynnisWhitwer.com) entitled Where I'm From.

Then, I read a third one written by another sweet cyber-friend Erin Patrick (My Nuggets of Truth).

As I read them, the light bulb flashed! I remembered that I had worked on the same thing in a workshop some time ago. It was a fun assignment, so I decided to dig mine out. The students were to write where they were from, as their family heritage, using this template...

The WHERE I'M FROM Template

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).
From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).

I didn’t exactly follow the template and I added to the original...

I am from the house historic, once nestled in vast acreage of farmland, where long-ago presidents came to visit and soldiers were stationed, where barn cats roamed and ducklings swam, where horses whinnied and peacocks unfurled their feathers, where fresh fruits and vegetables graced the family table alongside the farm delights of just-laid eggs and butter and milk from our dairy.

I’m from the precious grandmother, who allowed her granddaughter to decorate her hair and the grandfather that smoked those stinky cigars and snuck snacks for me that were a no-no. I am from the mother who loved to chew freshly ground coffee and eat raw potatoes with salt as she fixed dinner, and the dad who gave horsey rides until his back ached, who bought me a softball and bat, who played his trombone in duet as I attempted to play the piano.

I’m from drinking from the hose in the yard, jumping over the sprinkler, sun-blistered shoulders, and playing in the dirt, from the days of open windows and no air conditioning, and riding bicycles around the circle until the bugs of night hit our teeth, then lying in the grass to watch the wonders of the star-studded sky.

I’m from doctors who made house calls. I am from matching sibling pajamas on Christmas Eve. I am from the pear tree that skinned my elbow when I slid down its trunk. I’m from the club with my friends under the big pine tree.

I’m from antennae TV with two black and white stations, from Gumby and Pokey, Mighty Mouse, Howdy Doody, Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King, Ding Dong School, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Pinky Lee, Roy Rogers, Cisco Kid, and Kukla, Fran, and Ollie.

I’m from American Bandstand in the mid ’50s with Dick Clark, vinyl LP and 45 records on the hi-fi, Wolfman Jack, and sock hops. I’m from itchy wool sweaters and dresses, knee socks and plaid, pleated skirts, because wearing pants to school was not allowed. I’m from come-home-when-you-hear-the-bell-ring-or-else to get cleaned up for Daddy and dinner at 5:30.

I am from the pages of long-forgotten albums of ancestry and heritage, with roots in England, Ireland, and Germany, from upstanding characters who believed in keeping their word, who sought the Lord and helped their neighbors.

I’m from salvation found at a Billy Graham crusade and standing in awe as I met him at my grandparents’ home. I am from Bibles, worn and frayed, marked and loved, from third-row, organ-side Baptist services on Sundays and Wednesdays, and choir practice, from kneebenders who sought the deep, abiding love of God and to serve in return.

~Thank You, Lord, for my wonderful heritage and these precious whiffs of memories!

~~I hope you’ll try it. It’s a great memory jogger.

photo courtesy of Ernesto JT @flickr
***I temporarily interrupt the Behave Like a Christian series (as I boo-booed on my schedule) to bring you this post.***

A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law sent me a conversation that took place between her and her then seven-year-old grandson, David. I have had this sitting in the file, waiting for the right occasion to pass it on. This is it.

My sister-in-law wrote this to me…

I have to share a conversation I had with David today after school. I hope they penetrate deeply and make me more aware of some things, some of which are the importance of friendships and family.

Here goes:

When we had tornado warnings a few nights ago, David called here very concerned. He wanted me to go to the basement. He then wanted to talk to Pop Pop. The speaker phone was on so I was able to hear him say, “Pop Pop, there’s going to be another storm coming through after midnight. Will you stay up and watch the weather and get MiMi up then and take her to the basement?”

It touched my heart. Well, today when I was with him he brought the storms up again and asked if I went to the basement. I answered yes. He said, “I cried all night. I hardly slept.”

“Why, David? God will take care of us.”

He replied, “Because I was so afraid I was going to come to your house and find you dead!”

I don’t know how to tell you that impacted me. I was deeply touched but I also wanted to reassure him that I would always be okay. I was also stunned as he has never known death other than his goldfish, Mece.

I told him that, when I did die, I would be in heaven with Jesus. He said he knew that but he was concerned he would forget me.

“How could you forget Mimi, David?” I asked.

Here are the words that completely pierced me. He said, “When someone has been gone awhile we can forget them. We can forget them because it’s been a long time since they died, or we can get distracted and forget them.”

I immediately thought of how we get too busy for the people who really are important to us in our lives. I also thought of Jesus and how He died a long time ago and how sometimes I get too distracted and I forget Him.

I whispered, “I hear You, Lord.” I then went on to tell David everything was alright and changed the subject.

Pop Pop and I talked about these words of David’s tonight. He thought those were really deep words for a seven year old. I still think it was also the Holy Spirit speaking to me, “Remember what is important, (name), and remember Who is really important.”

“When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God-some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth.” (Eph. 3:14-15 TLB)

*This has been part of One Word Blog Carnival at Bridget Chumbley’s site on Children. Check it out for the other posters.

Today, I am thrilled to bring you this segment of the Behave Like a Christian series (Rom. 12:9-21), based on verse 10, which is entitled We Are Family, written by another friend, Stephanie Shott.

We Are Family

“Be kindly affectionate to one another
with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another.” (Rom. 12:10 NKJV)

I remember before I became a Christian that I really didn’t want anything to do with those “church people.” In my mind, they were boring, rule-making, fuddy-duddies and I knew if my lifestyle would ever collide with their world, it would not be a pretty sight.

But when I received Christ into my life, everything changed. I found myself running to those I had so adamantly run from. I realized that I loved them. Every single one of them. In fact, I realized I was one of them and they were my family.

They got me. When I talked about what was going on in my life, they understood. When I wasn’t sure how to live out this new found life, they helped me. When I cried, they cried with me; when I laughed, they laughed too. They loved me, in spite of me.


That’s what family does...we love each other in spite of each other. We share in each other’s joys and pains; we lift each other up; we encourage each other; we help each other out; we put up with each other’s quirky ways; we get each other.

In fact, Romans 12:10 gives us a perfect picture of what our relationship should be like when we’re part of the family of God.

We are to tenderly love each other as a family. We are to prefer each other. The word ‘preference’ in the Greek means to go before and lead the way. We are to lovingly lead the way for each other. To show one another how to put one’s needs before our own.
After all, isn’t that what families do?

Unfortunately, we don’t always look like the loving family God calls us to be. We’ve given the Christian family a black eye because we often look more like the Hatfields and McCoys than the Waltons.

Brothers and sisters, as James 3:10 says, “these things ought not be.”

God calls us to love one another as a demonstration of the relationship we have with each other because of the cross. Throughout the New Testament the Lord says to “love one another.” Scripture says…

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34 NKJV)

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 NKJV)

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NKJV)

Loving our brothers and sisters in Christ is not an option...it’s not a suggestion...it’s a commandment.

Is it always easy? No. But if we’re going to be a family that brings glory to our Father, then we need to love the unlovable...even when they’re part of the family...especially when they’re part of the family.

Here are a few tips to help each of us love one another as Christ loves us:

*Be slow to speak and slower to judge. (Remember, we don’t always know the whole story and a wise person thinks before s/he speaks)
*Always look for the best in one another. (We don’t always know someone else’s motives; we don’t always see everyone’s potential.)
*Give each other room to grow. (We’re all a work in progress and we all make mistakes!)
*Look for opportunities to help each other grow. (That’s part of loving someone.)
*Remember how much Christ loves you in spite of you. (We all fall short, but our Savior is never short on love for us.)
*Forgive quickly. (Grudges have a way of finding fertile soil in an unforgiving heart.)
*Be humble. (God does not see anyone as better than or less than. He sees us all as equal.)
*Admit your own failures. (Are you guilty of gossiping or griping? Have you caused a family feud of your own? Fess up your mess us and start loving like Christ loves.)
*Be kindly affectionate to one another. Honor one another. Put others’ needs before your own.

Why? Because we are family and that’s what families do.