Today I am thankful for memories. As an adult I can look back through the years and remember so much from my childhood. I can take this for granted. Even now, as I am writing it seems like a “no brainer” that I would remember. But, it really is a gift. I am sure that those, who for one reason or another can’t remember, would cry out for me to treasure my memory. Even more, those who are watching someone they love forget would remind me what a blessing it is to remember.
Today I remember thanksgivings of years gone by. Each year different as some years children are born, and some years those we love enter eternity. We watch the children grow older and fill our footsteps in making memories. And then, each year so much the same as we make the same dishes for our meals and we remember those who made them before us. We play ping pong and venture out to the park. We laugh, a lot. We watch football and we thank God for the blessings and for the grace to embrace the challenges of the year we just lived through.
And, then, there is decorating for Christmas. I remember the years of getting our artificial tree out of the box and putting it together and filling it with ornaments, many of which we made. Then…I remember getting real trees…I think fondly of choosing our tree each year and then bringing it home and having the room filled with its wonderful scent. We would load it with ornaments and lights and stand back and admire it. I also remember when I was older and my nieces would help decorate. It was so fun watching them so carefully place ornaments, exactly where they thought they should go. All of this preparation would set the stage to remember the most important birth ever, Jesus. Matthew 1:21 says “She [Mary] will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Today, I decorate my own home with my own family. We carefully string our lights, hang our stockings, and create an atmosphere of celebration as we remember the birth of our Lord. We can hardly wait to celebrate with our extended family and we look forward to hosting visitors to our home, purchasing presents and again, remembering the year gone by as we write our Christmas letter. We look forward to receiving Christmas letters from friends far and near and we look forward to rejoicing with our church body as we again, remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, today, I am thankful for memories of years gone by and for the memories that are yet to be built! I am thankful for the great gift they are and for how they bring such richness to our lives.
Blessings!
