Once upon a time, family history was passed down by the stories told around camp fires and dinner tables. During this time, there were no screens or devices to take the attention off the story teller, so children were both entertained and inquisitive. They would ask for favorite tales to be told again and again and for more details about the "hero" or other parts of the story left untold. This was the oral tradition and this is how history was "written" for thousands of years.
Bards and musicians later took these stories and embellished them traveling about to share the most interesting stories they could find with anyone who would listen. Family histories were not always "accurate", entirely, but they were passed down and cultures and traditions were formed. Traditions like loving God, family, and country.
Charming Holly Chrystal, the series, is my attempt at restoring this tradition for my family. We have some really great stories and they are at risk of being history lost if we do not tell them. Real stories written by those who experienced them cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence. These experiences can only be shared by those of us who were there. Our culture can only be impacted by real people who really figured some things out. No bot or program can do that for us. And we do not really want it to. When the "industry" of entertainment is left to come up with new stories, they just recycle old ones.
As a Christian, I have raised my children to know that when there is a crisis or tragedy, God provides. We honor Him and He comes through. That is the story of my life. When I do things God's way, they always work out for my good. When I do not, I have to endure a lot of correction, but they still always work out. God is good whether we are or not.
As an American, I am deeply troubled by the trend toward anti-semitism and reverse racism that has become so popular in woke circles. This is the land where Oprah Winfrey can be the richest woman in America even though her grandparents were share croppers. Where I can be a college educated, published author even though my great grandparents were share croppers. Our shared stories, our histories are necessary to remind us that we have more in common than not. Diversity is not what makes us strong, our unity does. No matter where you started, here you can be anything. UNITED we stand, divided we fall.
As a mother, I want children to know that no matter what, they are valuable and valued. I was a little girl often singled out because she talked a lot. It sometimes made me self-conscious, but I was reminded in Sunday school and regular school and at home that my "gift" was a good thing when I brought it under control. I learned to channel my energy and need for self-expression into stories that entertained my friends, poetry that touched other's hearts, speeches that won me awards, and books for which little girls thank me.
That's my story and no one else can tell it. Let us commit to less screen time and more time spent around a dinner table or camp fire telling the next generation how we survived our crazy childhood antics. Let's instill in them the REALity that no artificial intelligence can offer. The Truth is not relative and our history is no cause for shame. Lessons learned are always worth it and God is always good.
So, share something new with your family this Christmas. Tell them about something God has done or something you have done or your favorite part about living in a free country. If we fail to pass these legacies on through stories, we risk losing them all. I can think of nothing more tragic.
If you need a place to start, here's a link to my little book: https://personalwordsmith.etsy.com/listing/1637283523/book-for-toddlers-arrives-in-time-for
Merry Christmas
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