Don't Go Alone: Sharing Life Stories With My Grandsons…

Legacy Letters, Letter No. 2. A Sunday story about faith, family, and the people we hope to bring with us.

Two trips, one lasting bond

Every year, I make it a point to take my two oldest grandsons on a special trip. Two separate trips, typically to Las Vegas. It’s our time to bond and create lasting memories together.

We have an absolute blast exploring the extravagant hotels, indulging in delicious food, lounging by the pool, and, of course, eating some more!

Those trips are full of fun. But for me, they’re also a chance to be close, to listen, and to share something important. Between the meals, the pool, and all the exploring, I look for moments to tell my grandsons about my life before I met Christ.

I open up about the person I was and the transformation that took place. Sometimes they look at me in disbelief, and we share a laugh together. Those moments matter to me. They remind me that a testimony doesn’t have to be delivered from a stage. Sometimes it’s shared one-on-one, in the middle of an ordinary conversation, with someone you love.

It’s important for me to express my faith openly to anyone who is willing to listen. My grandson is no exception.

Sharing my testimony amid the fun

I don’t tell them my story because I believe I have everything figured out. I tell them because the change in my life is real to me, and because I want them to know what Christ has done.

There is something meaningful about being able to share your story with someone in your family. You’re not simply talking about the past. You’re letting them see what shaped you, what changed you, and what you hold close today.

Sometimes the hardest part is simply being willing to speak honestly. To tell the truth about who you were before, and to share the hope you found. That kind of openness can make a faith conversation feel personal, not distant or rehearsed.

I’m grateful for the chance to have those conversations with my grandsons. The trips give us time together, and I want to use some of that time to share more than a good meal or a good memory. I want to share the most important change in my life.

The freedom I found in Christ

When you accept Jesus into your life, something incredible happens. Your past mistakes and sins are forgiven, and the barrier between you and God is removed.

In the book of Romans, Paul reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those words speak to freedom from the power of sin and death. Jesus took away all your sins: past, present, and future.

That does not mean you will be perfect. Far from it. Faith is not a claim that you will never struggle or fall short. It means you do not have to live according to your sinful nature. You can live according to the Spirit, with the Holy Spirit guiding you toward what the Spirit desires.

And that way of living brings a different kind of fullness. Peace and joy. A life shaped by God’s terms, even while we remain aware of our limitations.

That is part of what I want my grandsons to understand when I share my life and testimony. The stories aren’t that I became perfect. The stories are that Christ changed me, and that His grace gave me a new way to live.

Two questions that stay with me

A wise pastor, Russ Stiverson, once shared something with me that I have never forgotten. He said that when we stand before God, He will ask us two questions.

Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Who did you bring with you?

The first question turns our attention to faith: where we stand with God. The second makes me think about the people around us: the ones who may be listening, watching, or waiting for someone to share the hope that changed their life.

I can’t answer those questions for my grandsons. I can’t make a decision of faith for anyone else. But I can be open about what I believe. I can share my life and testimony with love. I can make room for an honest conversation and trust that my story may matter to the person hearing it.

That’s why I take the trips. The memories are precious all by themselves. But I’m also grateful for the chance to pass along something that has changed my life.

So I ask you today: What would your answer be? And who in your life might need to hear your story?

Don’t go alone

We all have people around us who matter. Sharing your faith doesn’t require perfect words. It begins with being willing to speak honestly about what Christ has done in your life, and to share that love with the people willing to listen.

Maybe that conversation happens during a special trip. Maybe it happens in the middle of an ordinary day. What matters is that we don’t keep the hope we have to ourselves.

Let’s make a difference. Let’s share the love of Christ with those around us. Let’s get busy and make an impact.

Amen.

Legacy Letters

Turning gratitude into action, one story at a time.

If this letter brought someone to mind, consider sharing it with them. And come back next Sunday for another Legacy Letter.

At Operation T.A.G., we believe “Gratitude isn't a certification. It's something you do.” We put that belief into action by serving military families through education, community partnership, and financial support, standing up for those who stood up for us. Operation T.A.G. is not a lender; we connect families with licensed partners. CalVet and Hometown Hero Credit are separate programs that cannot be combined, so please discuss your options with a licensed professional.

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Brett Stacy
Founder & National Director, Operation T.A.G.™
National Brand Ambassador, Hometown Hero Credit™
Military Family Advocate | Author | Speaker
OperationTAG.org | HometownHeroCredit.com

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Legacy Letters is a Sunday series where Brett Stacy shares personal stories and reflections on faith, family, gratitude, and the lessons he hopes to pass on.

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