The sun dipped low, brushing the sky with strokes of gold, pink, and purple. A breeze drifted across the porch, but it wasn’t enough—we still waved paper church fans against the heavy Georgia heat and the swirl of mosquitoes.
I leaned in while my parents and cousins traded stories. They laughed, remembered, and sometimes debated the details. I sat quiet, looking from one to the other, soaking it all in.
Those Sunday evenings on the porch at the family house did more than pass the time. They rooted me in who we were, teaching me that stories are not just entertainment but an inheritance—threads of family, history, and identity woven together.
As I grew older, my curiosity deepened. I started asking questions, recording and capturing the stories of my family members. Those voices became treasures. Seeds that, years later, blossomed into my book Lord, Show Me Your Green Pastures, a project I was blessed to co-write with my mother.
I felt compelled to release it this year, but this book was in the making for nearly 20 years. I drew upon pages and pages of transcripts from interviews and video footage I shot.
The Challenge of Getting Stories Out
I’ll be honest, interviewing isn’t always simple. Thankfully, I have my journalism experience to draw upon. However, I think a lot of people assume it’s easy to come up with some questions. But to get a good story, you’ve got to employ a few techniques to make sure people feel comfortable opening up and being vulnerable.
Sometimes, especially with older relatives, you meet silence, hesitation, or resistance. I share this in Lord, Show Me Your Green Pastures. Getting my mom to open up wasn’t instant. It took patience, thoughtful questions, and a willingness to listen without pushing.
I’ve seen the same in my work as a writing consultant. Many clients carry powerful stories, yet because they come from a generation that wasn’t asked to tell them, finding their voice takes time.
You also have to consider that some life moments are particularly challenging and traumatizing. I always coach my clients to take good care of themselves emotionally and mentally as they remember tough times and old wounds.
As I wrote Lord, Show Me Your Green Pastures with my mom, there were times when she needed a few days to recover from our interviews. They brought up things she hadn’t thought about in a long time. Therapy wasn’t as popular or accessible for many from older generations, so you’re working with a lot of unprocessed emotions.
PIN IT!Tips for Interviewing Family Members
If you’ve ever wanted to capture your family’s history, here are a few ways to make it easier:
- Start small. Skip “Tell me your life story.” Instead, ask about a favorite meal, a childhood game, or what Sundays looked like growing up. The little things open the door to the bigger ones.
- Use props. A photograph, a quilt, or even an old hymn can stir memories more quickly than a question.
- Give time. Silence isn’t refusal. Sometimes your loved one is searching decades of memory for the right words.
- Listen deeply. The goal isn’t a “perfect” account but honoring the person telling it. Resist the urge to edit or correct in the moment.
- Preserve with care. Record, write, or even bind the stories in a small family book. With time, their value only multiplies.
From Family Treasure to Legacy Book
What begins as a porch conversation can become a legacy—a collection to pass down to children and grandchildren. Sometimes it even grows into a book meant to inspire beyond the family circle. That’s exactly what happened with Lord, Show Me Your Green Pastures.
And that’s where my work now comes full circle. I don’t just help people capture their stories—I help them preserve them in ways that last.
PIN IT!Want to Tell Your Story?
If you’ve been thinking about writing your family’s story—or even your own—I’d love to help. I offer two pathways:
- Finish That Book – my writing program to help you finally finish your book.
- Publish That Book – my premium, hands-on service that turns your stories into a professional, published book.
Because your story matters—not only to you, but to the generations who will one day sit on their own porches, listening and learning from the life you lived.
PIN IT!