You can turn your family history into a variety of fun stories.
Remember, conflict is part of life. Don’t leave out what your grandparents
suffered and why. You want your children to be proud of who they are. We must
share these stories with them.
First, collect your thoughts. Write down any experiences
that you remember. Talk to family members and discuss memories. Use letters
they wrote to one another. Do research of that time period and find out what
the country was going through, and insert it in the history of your ancestor.
The turmoil of a country helps you to understand what your family went through
and why they suffered. Did they live during the depression? If so, how did it
affect them? What the country went through has to do with the circumstances of
your ancestors. If they lived during World War II, it helps your children
understand why their grandparents had such tough times, why they barely made
ends meet, or why they had to flee a certain country.
Find out everything you can about the area, to both educate
your readers and to make the setting feel real. If possible, go to the area you
want to write about and walk around. Find out where your ancestors lived, went
to school, and played. If you can’t go there, then do research and find
pictures of that area. Study books at the library or search the Internet.
The time period is another important part of research.
During the roaring twenties, bobbed hair was the rage. If your grandmother
bobbed her hair and went to the dance marathons, write about it. If he or she
loved reading books in the evening before retiring, it would be interesting to
add what kind of light he used. Little details like this warms a story up and
can bring your ancestor to life. Did he use electricity, candlelight, or an oil
lantern? It sounds more interesting to say, “Grandfather sat in his overstuffed
chair and read for hours with an oil lantern at his side.” Rather than just
saying, “Grandfather read extensively before retiring.”
For those writing your
own autobiography, don’t forget the importance of description. Remember,
emotion is part of life and is an essential part of your story. Use it! Show,
don’t tell! If you had been faced with a grizzly bear in the wild, did your
face turn pale and your hands tremble? Describe your feelings when you fell in
love. I asked my mother what it was like when she first met my father, and she
said, “When our eyes met, my heart leapt within me and a warm glow filled my
soul.”
Example of writing your family legacy: Sarah Eckersley Robinson, my great grandmother, was
a beautiful woman and an example of fortitude and courage. Since she was deaf, Sarah
relied on the Lord and followed the promptings given her. After returning from
town, she sensed the presence of someone in the house. Acting quickly, she
grabbed her broom and began searching her home. She had a feeling to check her
bedroom, but when she entered the room, no one was in sight. She quietly
stepped to her bed and looked under it. There she found an evil and lustful man
crouched and waiting for Sarah, but he was not prepared for a strong and
determined woman with a weapon in her hands.
With
all the strength she had, she whacked him out from under the bed with the
broom. She then hit him over the head again and again. Chasing him from the
house, she continued beating him as he ran down the street. Sarah had spirit. This
wicked man thought he could take advantage of her since she was deaf, but he
did not expect such courage and fled.
Here’s another example. Frances Davies Clark, my great grandmother, noticed
a band of marauders picking her grapes, stripping the vineyard of all its
fruit. It upset Frances as she watched them filling their bags full of ripe
grapes. She had babied those vines and this was her first crop. An idea popped
into her mind. She quickly donned her husband’s military suit, hat, and cape.
Grasping his sword with one hand, she strode out onto the porch, waving it in
the air in a threatening manner and demanding in a loud voice, “Leave now or
perish!” Terrified, the marauders dropped their bags and fled as fast as they
could, in fear of their lives. When they had disappeared, she changed her
clothes, gathered up the grapes and made grape jelly.
Another story of courage! When a mob stopped by
at my great grandfather’s home, he was only twelve years old at the time. Gilbert
Weaver described the leader as a “large, burly and murderous demon.” This was from
the viewpoint of a young boy. When the leader ordered his mother to deny her
religion or he would burn their home down, my great grandfather wrote: She
stomped her foot with defiance and said, “You may burn it and be damned!”
What courage this must have taken for her to do this! Martha
Raimer’s husband had died from pneumonia and she had seven children to care
for. Yes. The mob threw a torch to the house and burned their home down. Did
this affect her heritage? It certainly did. As a result, one of her
grandchildren wrote this poem in her honor.
DEAR HERITAGE
What do we think of when we read of her?
With head held high, asserting staunchest faith;
Stripped of the haven that she held so dear,
Facing the hardships, ever true ‘til death.
Thanks, grandmother dear, for your ever-trusting
heart.
Faith such as yours will bless us our lives thru—
Helping us chart our wavering steps with firmer
tread,
Lifting us up to climb to your stature, too.
--Sarah Weaver Hulse
It’s important to write your family legacy. Your children
will be grateful once they’re grown. They’ll want to know their heritage, what
their ancestors stood for, and what they believed. Make your family legacy
something your children will remember, something they will be proud of.
