Carl Whitaker, the founder of Experiential Family Therapy, said, “There are no individuals in the world, only fragments of families.” The families in which we grew up influence who we are.

The theme for our September Courier is family. We are looking for unique and special stories from our readers about family life. Carl Rogers, one of the originators of client-centered therapy, observed, “To be a person is to have a story to tell.” The Courier is interested in hearing about your family life stories.

These stories may be humorous, serious, or illustrations of God’s grace and power. Some may focus on growing up, while others may share about raising children. Grandparents often have great stories to impart.

Different family traditions can be an encouragement to other families. Vacations and other trips, meals, church life, prayer and devotional time, births, deaths, baptisms, or any number of other possibilities can be shared.

For example, a little boy was late for Vacation Bible School one evening. The older youth were meeting in the unfinished basement of the church. The entrance to the basement was a small door that could be latched from the outside. This boy took great care to quietly shut and latch the door. What the kid did not know is that the pastor was teaching the youth inside that room. Someone rescued the group in a few minutes, but the little boy had a bad evening. His mother was one of the VBS workers! That little kid eventually became a preacher, pastored for 37 years, then became editor of the Courier.

Share your stories with us by completing the form below or by emailing us at CourierNews@baptistcourier.com. You can also write us at The Courier, 100 Manly Street, Greenville, S.C. 29601.