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Title:
"Making
A Museum of Memories"
Author: JoanY, JoyPals.com-ReformedWomen, Editor-Publisher
“The memory of
the righteous is blessed.”
Proverbs 10:7
We are always talking about
“making memories” with our children and families. We create photos,
albums, videos, scrapbooks and keep all kinds of things as reminders or
memories of special times with loved ones and friends. I love memories,
especially good ones and they can be excellent in ministry or sharing
with others. I also like making scrapbooks, or memory pages, and have a
historical memory bulletin board (the second of two over a 20-year
period) over my desk filled with pictures, notes, verses, cute and funny
things to remember. I like to look up from my writing and take a memory
walk as I peruse those treasures I have accumulated there. Most of the
time when I look at it, I am blessed by good memories but there are some
memories before me there that are sweetly sad or nostalgic. There is a
picture of mom and me at a Bible Conference, arms wrapped around each
other and I miss her terribly since her home-going to the Lord. There
is a picture of my daughter and me sitting together during one of our
craft boutiques and then again making cookies with my DH and mom. It
sends me back to many of these precious times that mothers enjoy with
their children and I miss them. I see friends who have gone home with
Jesus, special notes with verses that lifted me high before Christ in
difficult times and times of rejoicing. There are songs of praise,
encouragements and poems, sweet things and sad things, memories.
In reading Edith Schaeffer's book "What is a Family" I was struck by
what she says about family and memories:
“What is a family meant to
be? Among other things, I personally have always felt it is meant
to be a museum of memories—collections of carefully preserved
memories and a realization that day-by-day memories are being chosen
for our museum. Someone in the family—one who is happily making it
his or her career, or both parents, perhaps a grandparent or two,
aunts and uncles, older brothers and sisters—at least one person
needs to be conscious that memories are important, and that time can
be made to have double value by recognizing that what is done today
will be tomorrow’s memory.”1/
Edith goes on to talk about our
“making” or “planning” memories, creating times and opportunities for
making them. I think we do this every day, whether purposely or
inadvertently. We do this as we read to our children, homeschool them,
discipline or teach them. We do this as we minister in our homes, in
our churches, to our neighbors, friends and family. They are memories
for us and for them. I like to think of them as Edith says: “they have
double value.” Yesterday, DH and I strolled through antique shops in
Leesburg, bought a lovely stone tablet of the Ten Commandments and a
special stone “rose frame” for a portrait of us, and then we ate lunch
in a lovely restaurant in an old restored bank building. We made
“couple” memories. They are precious and sweet. They will be memories
to cherish.
How are you creating memories?
Have you thought about this? I am confident your list is as long as
mine. Memories are sweet. Create some with your loved ones now to
savor today and tomorrow.
“They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.”
Psalm 145:7
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1/ Edith Schaffer, “What is a Family” Chapter 9, “A Museum of Memories”
165.
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JoyPals.com-ReformedWomen
Editor & Publisher,
“Heavenly Notes 2003”
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