by Miriam Rossow
The Rossow family loves to tell stories. Some of the favorite family stories are from times at the family farm. They share stories of Easter celebrations and Memorial Day celebrations. They share stories of playing Euchre and Trouble with Grandma Rossow. I have heard stories of the famous Frisbee shot that Grandpa made by throwing the Frisbee from the driveway and making it go through the granary “window.”
Stories are often shared about Grandma’s amazing flower garden and asparagus. Stories of picking potato bugs off the plants and receiving a penny for each and a nickel for every egg sack are told often! And don’t forget the ever- famous Easter Egg in water trick that Uncle David pulled on poor little Justin! I know the farmhouse, the rooms, and the family memories.
This past fall Justin’s sister and family moved back into the family farmhouse. It was an exciting time for the family to have a member living in this historic house again. As we drove to the farm for a family gathering, Justin was recalling the famous stories again. He was taking in all the sights as we entered into his past. I was excited also as I only recalled being to the farm once in the past. So my memories were vague, but I felt I knew it!
As we drove down the road and into the driveway I took a look around. At this point I realized I had never actually been to this house! I had only thought I was there because of all the memories and stories that I had heard and re-heard for the past 20 years being part of Justin’s family. What a shock to realize I had never actually been on this property. It felt so real and so much like my story!
What a shock to realize I had never actually been on this property. It felt so real and so much like my story!
In baptism we are connected with Jesus and His story becomes our story. As we weekly receive Jesus in communion He continues to connect His story to ours. He pours His lifeblood out for us, failed followers. Through His coming to be part of our world, by birth, by life, and by death He has connected Himself to us.
He wants His story to affect me in the same way the stories of Justin’s family did. As Jesus connects me to Him and His story of life, death, and resurrection my reality of life, death, and resurrection are changed. I want my children to know this new reality. I want my children to see, feel, and understand this connection and see their reality change as Jesus touches it!
I want my children to see, feel, and understand this connection and see their reality change as Jesus touches it!
So as we continue the tradition of telling stories in our family we will also tell the story of Jesus. We will tell the stories of how Jesus comes into our lives and affects our days and our decisions. We will share the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and how that has changed our story of life, death, and resurrection.
The wonderful hope with the story of Jesus is the fact that He promises to come again. His return will make our stories the same in a way that I cannot see or feel now. We will walk, talk, and see Him face to face living side by side with our creator.
