Our Grand Midwest Tour: Generation to Generation

To get to Cincinnati, we decided to wind our way through the peaceful, rolling green hills on the back roads of northern Kentucky. I began to really enjoy driving but I knew Cindy enjoyed it, too. So we needed to find her driver’s license—not only to share the driving but also to get her through airport security and onto the plane back home! We’d looked over every square inch of car and luggage, called every restaurant and home we’d visited, and still no sign of it. At this point, all we could do was give it to God; He knew where it was.

Not knowing this part of the country too well, I needed plenty of directions. However, we hadn’t yet perfected our navigation system. Sometimes Gene would try Google maps, or Cindy would try Waze, or they’d compare and come up with different routes, or one or all of our phones was out of range for any kind of direction.

Then when instructions were given, there was the problem of too much information and I couldn’t keep it all in my head such as “Use the 2nd from the right lane to take exit 131 for US-36/OH-37 toward Delaware/Sunbury”; or information given too late like “Turn right at Starbury Road, oh wait, that’s the one we just passed”; or incomplete information as in “Go north when you get to the river.”

And did I mention that one of the voices was soft-spoken and a bit hesitant at times, while the other was somewhat louder and more authoritative? But it all turned out right when we stopped for gas and sorted out who would do what, when, and how, to get us happily to our destination.

This whole situation reminds me of a family navigating their way through life. Sometimes it’s all up hill, or you forgot the map, or nobody wants to go but Dad, or someone wanders off and gets lost. There are pleasant drives through the valley, maybe treacherous winding roads up the mountain, and now and then life will cruise along smoothly on the freeway.

When the kids are small, it’s the parents who take the responsibility of driving the family car AND teaching the children how to drive until they have learned the rules of life’s road and gained some experience. Eventually, they get family cars of their own to navigate.

In Cincinnati, we had the pleasure of visiting Gene’s sister, Ceney, and her husband, Paul. They took us just up the road to Campbells Red Barn for some crispy, dee-licious fried chicken. Then it was over to visit Lisa, their daughter, along with her husband, Jay, and two of their three girls. We only stayed about an hour, this little family is busy! But we enjoyed every minute as we met the dog, toured their new house and the giant yard, and were entertained by a lovely little dancing daughter.

Paul and Ceney have three children and each one of them is married and has children of their own. This is exceptional in itself in an age when it is not fashionable to be married, and even fewer are willing to raise children. But it’s even more remarkable that they all live within several miles of each other! I love this—it tells me something about the love and forgiveness they’ve shared together along the way.

Every generation in every family will leave a legacy for their children. What memories, what stories, what life lessons, what family traditions do we want to leave for our children? What wisdom can we pass on to them that is worth more than gold? God tells us in His Word.

Psalms 78:4,6:
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.

Do you see it? The wonderful works that He has done in your life, the times He delivered you from money troubles, sickness, condemnation—all these we relate to our children with our praises to the Lord for His goodness to us. And what about when He called you out of darkness to be His own? Praiseworthy stuff! Tell your children!

I Peter 2:9:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

And then your children, driving their own family car, can add on to the family tradition of God’s blessings and wonderful works in their own lives, declaring them to their children.

Psalms 145:4-7:
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Enjoy the drive and keep sharing with the next generation, praises to our God for His wonderful works!

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