The History Within – June 29, 2003
We often joke that a baby born with little hair has his father’s forehead. Sometimes going through photographs of our ancestors bears out the same jokes about oversized ears and noses and curly hair. While there may be a physical resemblance between children and their parents, there is also a deeper connection—a shared spiritual DNA. Reading our ancestors’ journals may uncover this strand of spiritual DNA: an uncommon benevolence, tenacity, or courage—character traits that link the generations. Looking back to the way our grandparents solved problems may reveal ways in which we can approach our own challenges. Learning how an ancestor fought off the elements while raising a family can give us comfort as we weather the uncertainty of our own times. The courtship and devotion expressed between husbands and wives generations ago can be a great lesson on respect and affection in our modern marriages.
A woman, grieving over the death of her husband, framed pictures of her ancestors and hung them on the walls of her home. It was a reminder to her of the many trials they had suffered. Knowing they had survived gave her the strength to continue. Faith was in her pedigree, and she drew on it when she needed it most.
James Baldwin expressed: “History does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us.”
The lessons learned by our forebears, the love of our grandparents, the devotion of our parents—it is all there, inside each of us, providing hope in times of trial, a sense of self when faced with moral challenges and comfort in times of despair. Like music touching our souls each time it is played, family histories persuade our hearts by returning them to familiar places. May we remember the sweetness of the past not by living in it, but by simply letting it live within us.
Program #3854