Write it Down

The Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

Proverbs 1:1

The only way we have the book of Proverbs is that Solomon wrote it down. 

There’s a lesson there.  I bet there are things that really matter to you.  Timeless principles, memories, and axioms that you’d like to pass on to your children and your children’s children. But you must write it down. 

So my advice to you today is write it down.

If it matters to you, it will matter to those who love you. Write it down!

If you’ve learned things that have helped you and enriched you, it will probably help and enrich the generations further downstream. Write it down!  

Leave something for your family in writing…and don’t be sloppy about it.

Be intention.

Start today.

Take the time to gather your thoughts and put them down.  Like Solomon, generations from now will have the privilege of gleaming wisdom from your life and will be living a better life because you left life markers behind for them. (How priceless would a written journal from your great, great grandparents be to you?) 

Every mistake, failure, and setback that you have had does not have to be wasted.  It could be leveraged to teach those following after you and spare them some of the sorrow that you have had to go through.  But you’ve got to write it down!

The vital lessons and principles that you have learned traveling through life do not have to go to the grave with you. But you’ve got to write it down!

The precious memories of your childhood – your own parents, and grandparents, and others – they do not have to be forgotten.  Future generations of your family could be benefiting as you are, but you’ve got to write it down! 

The emotions and sentiments of your heart do not have to evaporate with your last breath, write them down! 

Someday, in your own words and in your own handwriting, let those you love the most read, “I love you.”

And most of all, write to them of your faith.  Leave behind written prayers and promise, and tell them about the miracles that have happened in your life (they need the hope that miracles can happen for them).

Show them the way to get to you and the God of their faithers.  Write it down.

The ONE THING for today: When a family loses its storytellers and teachers it is always one generation away from extinction.