Feel-Good True Story: Beneath the Old Oak Tree – Short Story About Family
🌳 Unearth the warmth of family bonds in ‘Beneath the Old Oak Tree’, a short story about family, tradition, and the treasures of heritage. 💖
Beneath the Old Oak Tree
MISSOURI VALLEY, IA – Today we travel from our offices in Winona, Minnesota, to Missouri Valley, Iowa for a true story that happened to a very special little girl and her piano teacher here in the Midwest. Told as a parable, we hope this real-life story of one local family will bring a smile to your face. If you enjoy reading heartwarming tales like this, be sure to check out our Feel-Good Stories books or listen to Kitty’s daily Feel-Good Stories podcast. And now, on to the story of the Old Oak Tree…
Once upon a time, in the rolling hills of Missouri Valley, Iowa, was a farm that had been in the Apmann family for generations. It was a place of golden fields and warm sunshine, where each morning greeted you with the promise of a new day. The Apmanns were a close-knit family, with laughter often echoing from the walls of their cozy farmhouse.
One lazy summer afternoon, 12-year-old Rosalie and her younger brother, Lucas, were playing in the attic. Amidst the old trunks and forgotten memories, Rosalie stumbled upon a dusty, tattered map. “Look, Lucas! It’s a treasure map!” she exclaimed with wide-eyed wonder.
The two siblings ran downstairs with their discovery, excited to tell their parents. “Mom, Dad, look what we found! It’s a map!”
Their parents, John and Sarah, smiled at each other as they watched their children’s excitement. “That’s not just any map,” Sarah said softly, “It’s a special tradition in our family.”
Intrigued, Lucas begged, “Can we follow it? Please!”
The map led them on a scavenger hunt across the farm. Each clue was a piece of their family’s history, lovingly preserved. The journey brought them to a hidden spot under the old oak tree. Lucas dug excitedly in the rich brown soil. “I found something!” he shouted.
They unearthed a weathered trunk – filled with mementos from generations past.
“What’s this?” Lucas asked, holding up a miniature, hand-carved wooden horse.
“That was your great-great-grandfather’s,” John said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “He made it himself when he was about your age.”
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The family spent the evening sharing stories of their ancestors. Each item in the trunk had its own tale, a thread in the rich tapestry of their family’s history. The trunk even contained items brought from Germany when the family first immigrated to Iowa.
As the sun set, Rosalie and Lucas decided to add their own treasures to the trunk. Rosalie placed a small painting she had made of the farm and Lucas added a photo of the family dog, Jumbo, who was their loyal companion.
Jumbo wagged his tail and snorted softly. His eyes shimmered with understanding and love, as if he could sense he was part of something special.
Finally, the family reburied the trunk together, their hearts full of the love passed down through the generations. On that day, Rosalie and Lucas made a promise to each other and their parents. They vowed to continue this tradition, to keep the legacy of love and memory alive for their future children.
Years later, Rosalie, now grown, sat with her own children under the old oak tree. “Once upon a time,” she began, her eyes twinkling, “your great-great-great-grandparents started a beautiful tradition … “
The farm continued to thrive, not just as a place of bountiful harvest, but as a home where memories were cherished and celebrated, generation after generation. In this way, the treasure chest under the old oak tree became not just a container of things – but a vessel of love, binding the Apmanns together as a family, forever.
Written by Kitty Norton. © 2024 Jack and Kitty Norton. Reprinted by permission of Jack and Kitty Media Group. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
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