Last week I received a text from my cousin reminding me that last year at this time, she, my mom, and I were at the Hermitage outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Ahhh, the memories. It was a beautiful fall day and an absolutely wonderful experience. That one memory relegated to the background four long days of driving, three nights in less than . . . and then lesser than . . . and then much lesser than (are those words?) salubrious hotels, and the previous day’s booting and $50 release of our tire at Mud Island.
I responded with, “A trip takes months of preparation, lasts a couple of weeks, but provides a lifetime of memories.” And wouldn’t you know it . . . a blog was born.
Have you noticed how trips take on a life of their own after the fact? Years after the actual journey, participants continue to talk about this experience and laugh about that one. Even the bad or rough parts seem to play an essential role as they now provide “trench warfare” experiences that strengthen the personal connections even more.
Memories bind us together.
Mom and I had been planning this trip back to Tennessee for awhile. We were to visit relatives and take a side trip with them up into Kentucky to see the Creation Museum and the Ark. In an extended family Zoom call, we shared our plans. In a later visit to my cousin’s, she asked if she could join us and share with the driving. We immediately said yes.
But that was only part of the story. As Paul Harvey would say, “Here’s the rest of the story.”
Previous by weeks if not months to our Zoom call “reveal”, my cousin had been listening to some of her neighbors talk about various recent road trips. Though she had traveled a lot, she had never been on an actual “road trip” per se, and was beginning to take to the idea. She had also always wanted to see the Ark . . . but to do either alone seemed both impractical and not that much fun. So . . . she prayed . . . that God would create an opportunity for a road trip and that she could see the Ark. She just never dreamed God would put the two together . . . and with her two favorite relatives. (Smiley face and tongue in cheek emojis inserted here.)
But He did, and now a year later we are sharing the experience and the smiles again.
As Christians, we need to take a lesson from our secular experiences. We need to not only remember what God has done for us . . . the way he has answered prayer . . . walked us through difficult situations . . . provided for our needs . . . but we also need to share them. To bring them back and talk about them just like we do those vacation memories. We need to continue to revel in his power and smile at his creativity, and the mind-blowing way He answers prayer or resolves issues.
The Israelites would set stones and create festivals to remind them of what God had done for them. When we take communion we remember what Christ did for us on the cross. Remembering is important. David in Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” Sharing those memories with others is one way to solidify those memories and glorify God.
I hope to share with you a wonderful example of God’s provision in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I would love you to share one of yours. It is good to remember.
I responded with, “A trip takes months of preparation, lasts a couple of weeks, but provides a lifetime of memories.” And wouldn’t you know it . . . a blog was born.
Have you noticed how trips take on a life of their own after the fact? Years after the actual journey, participants continue to talk about this experience and laugh about that one. Even the bad or rough parts seem to play an essential role as they now provide “trench warfare” experiences that strengthen the personal connections even more.
Memories bind us together.
Mom and I had been planning this trip back to Tennessee for awhile. We were to visit relatives and take a side trip with them up into Kentucky to see the Creation Museum and the Ark. In an extended family Zoom call, we shared our plans. In a later visit to my cousin’s, she asked if she could join us and share with the driving. We immediately said yes.
But that was only part of the story. As Paul Harvey would say, “Here’s the rest of the story.”
Previous by weeks if not months to our Zoom call “reveal”, my cousin had been listening to some of her neighbors talk about various recent road trips. Though she had traveled a lot, she had never been on an actual “road trip” per se, and was beginning to take to the idea. She had also always wanted to see the Ark . . . but to do either alone seemed both impractical and not that much fun. So . . . she prayed . . . that God would create an opportunity for a road trip and that she could see the Ark. She just never dreamed God would put the two together . . . and with her two favorite relatives. (Smiley face and tongue in cheek emojis inserted here.)
But He did, and now a year later we are sharing the experience and the smiles again.
As Christians, we need to take a lesson from our secular experiences. We need to not only remember what God has done for us . . . the way he has answered prayer . . . walked us through difficult situations . . . provided for our needs . . . but we also need to share them. To bring them back and talk about them just like we do those vacation memories. We need to continue to revel in his power and smile at his creativity, and the mind-blowing way He answers prayer or resolves issues.
The Israelites would set stones and create festivals to remind them of what God had done for them. When we take communion we remember what Christ did for us on the cross. Remembering is important. David in Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” Sharing those memories with others is one way to solidify those memories and glorify God.
I hope to share with you a wonderful example of God’s provision in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I would love you to share one of yours. It is good to remember.
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