Our family has been all about preserving memories lately. Our oldest son has been converting old VHS tapes to a digital format. and we have been enjoying glimpses of the past. So amazing to hear those precious voices, and see long missed faces again. Our middle son has enrolled us in a project that involves answering questions each week to preserve the stories of our childhood.
Looking for a project to keep us active on rainy days, my husband and I decided to venture up into the attic to organize and downsize what was tucked away in cardboard boxes and plastic storage crates. We have a sizable pile of things that might interest buyers of collectibles, waiting on the next available time for a yard sale or donation to a thrift store. There are also boxes of things we will actually use ourselves, like the Christmas decorations that will brighten our lives later this year.
Still, there are those items that we just couldn’t part with at some time in the past. Things that seemed too important to lose track of. Our children’s report cards and awards from their school years. Letters from friends and relatives who have since passed away. Scraps and mementos from a busy, happy family. Even things our parents and grandparents kept and passed along to us. An emotional and overwhelming task for sure. We can only spend an hour or two at a time doing this each time we climb that ladder to the space under our eaves.
It is harder for me to throw things away than it is for him, but I am managing to let go. I am doing what my parents did to some extent, passing along the decision to my children. There is at least one plastic tub started for each of them. But, after spending a moment reading, remembering, smiling, or even tearing up a little, garbage bags are being filled and sent down to the dumpster.
God understands our need to keep things to remember our past experiences. In Joshua 4:21-22, he explains to the people who had just crossed the Jordan river and brought twelve stones out to serve as a monument, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land.'” and more importantly in verse 24 “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” NKJV
Man spent a lot of time creating a dwelling place for God, using the best materials they had to help the people remember Him.
God sent His son to live among us, and the world changed forever. As John says “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NKJV
The monuments and the temples had served their purpose. Now, we had a living representation of God.
Jesus fulfilled His ultimate purpose, as explained in Hebrews 9:15 “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” NKJV
He died, He rose again, He ascended to heaven, but Jesus didn’t leave us alone. He promised a helper. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 NKJV.
Monuments, tabernacles, temples are physical reminders, but we don’t need them. God came to earth in the person of His son, and now He lives inside us, as the Holy Spirit.
The things I have stored in may attic served their purpose as reminders, but I can let go of them. The memories live inside my heart. Thank you , Lord, for beautiful memories.
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