Wisdom Passed Down and Passed On

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One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. – Psalm 145:4

I still remember her hands. Wrinkled. Work-worn. And her aprons. She always wore aprons. Most were made from scraps of old dresses pulled from her rag bag. The artist in her, the same creative spirit that took great care to match the colors in her garden, would often add a bit of lace to the hem of these recycled creations—a push back to the common chores that filled her day.

The echo of her warbly voice as she hung the wash on a sagging clothesline in her backyard, is one of my earliest memories of her.

‘Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee...’

My grandmother taught me to crochet and embroider. She taught me how to use a fork to seal the edges of her crispy cherry turnovers, and she taught me the importance of prayer.

Grandmother was a simple woman with a strong and enduring faith. On summer holidays in her modest home in Tennessee, she took the words of Psalm 145 seriously, and told me about Jesus, took me to Vacation Bible School, and on Sunday mornings, walked with me to the small church around the corner.

But it was the godly wisdom she offered during our nighttime prayers I remember most. There, in the darkening shadows of a sticky southern evening, she would sit on the edge of my bed and talk with me about all that filled my young mind, reminding me that Jesus cared about every detail. She shared her own stories of God’s faithfulness, and lessons learned from loved ones long gone to glory. She quoted Scripture, sang hymns, and then together, we bowed our heads and prayed. I fell asleep with tiny seeds of God’s wisdom planted deep in my spirit.

As parents and grandparents, we will pass down many things, but nothing will be more lasting or far-reaching than the time-tested, godly wisdom we have gained on our own journey. The sure moments when trusting Him changed everything. In his psalm, King David encourages our obedience in declaring God’s mighty acts to the next generation and the next. Our testimony, lived out in the wisdom of God’s Word, will be our greatest legacy.

May we be bold in declaring His faithfulness, honest in sharing our stories, and intentional in the opportunities God gives us to point the next generation to the true wisdom only God can offer.

And if we can do all of this in an apron hemmed in lace—all the better.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What is it that your children and or grandchildren would say they most associate with you? A special meal, a warm hug, a quirky sense of humor? What deeper associations could you offer to tie the apron strings of faith and family even more securely?

2. If you had only ten minutes to share an essential nugget of Godly wisdom with a younger member of your family, prayerfully consider what it might be? Have it at the ready, and ask God to give you a meaningful, timely opportunity to share it.

3. Finally, take a moment to thank God for your elders. For those who have loved you well by pouring into you the wisdom God has poured into them. What a gift!