So many stories, so little time. You hold within your mind an enormous storehouse of gold. Only you can tell your kids what they looked like as babies, about their first words, and how cute they were when they sat primly on their potty-chairs. The tales don’t end there. As your family grows, you’ll have the opportunity to discover even more about your beloved little (and big) ones. Don’t keep those stories to yourself.

Instead, jot them down or take the time to plant a precious scene in their minds. Lock the fun into memory banks so that they can retell them when they’re old enough to appreciate the silliness, sadness, fun, and drama. As your kids mature, be brave enough to give them the scoop on what you were like as a kid. Maybe they’ll learn from your mistakes—just as you did.

Tell your children how you and your spouse met. Drag your kids along as you meander down memory lane. They actually enjoy hearing a humorous anecdote from their parents’ past. Your struggles and triumphs make you more real, more accessible. Your honesty gives them food for thought. Most of all, you give them a repertoire of delightful family stories for their children and their children’s children. And so legends grow.

Storytelling is how we learn. Parables teach where sermons fail. Make every day an opportunity to show and tell your children eternal truths. Choose your words wisely. Pour into them the excitement of being a part of a grand plan. And let them hear the greatest story of all, about a beloved Son who gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. Your kids belong in God’s big picture, His sweeping story.