A Reminder of Old Things

My mom came over yesterday and with her she brought a bag full of momentos and trinkets. It was fun going through them there on the couch in late afternoon. All these things brought back wonderful memories and experiences that I hadn't thought about for a long time.

What struck me (other than the 80's were not good to some of us ;o) was that she had hung onto them for over 35 years. Can you believe it? Come one already... just let go...I'm 40- for crying out loud :o) (I say that with a big smile), but seriously...she had artwork, dance pictures, stories I had written in 7th grade,craft projects with rusted pipecleaners from my kindergarten days( hey kids this is what happens to a pipecleaner from the early 70's. One child pipes in:" they had pipecleaners back then...?") Oh my word! You just gotta love them when they say that kind of stuff! I thought my mom was going to colaps a lung from gasping- she was so agog! Guess that would make her how old?... anyway, I digress.

Remember the little books you made that talked all about YOU? All your old friends and class pictures? Each precious gem had a story or memory and we whittled away the afternoon as the sun settled into evening remembering when. My children got to learn more about their mother as a young girl and youth in high school. What a treasured time. I may joke, but, I am really glad she has the sentimentality to save those parts of me.

Time can mute the memories and smugde away the little things so easily. That is why I have many treasure boxes in my house. Places to store up those memories no matter how small they might be. In the bible they are called Ebenezers isn't that a funny name? I'm sure that you are reminded of Dicken's tale of Scrooge when you hear that. But in biblical times, an ebenezer was a marker of significance. The Isrealites used such a marker when they were going to cross over into the promise land under the leadership of Joshua. They did this so that they would always remember and anytime they past that way and someone would ask" what is that pile of stones for?" one would remember.

I like tangible reminders of where I have come from. It gives me great perspective on my life. But most of all, it keeps me looking heavenward.

It seemed to me that part of my journey had come full circle somehow and yet I don't quiet know how to articulate it other than a feeling deep inside of me was warmed and comforted, maybe stirred by the Holy Spirit as a sort of Ebenezer. Something was happening generationally. I can't help thinking that it was a blessing coming to fruition, an ebenezer.