Memories

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement.

Memories

We are using the restrictions of this pandemic to bring out old scrapbooks and peruse pictures not thought of in years. A scrapbook is a wonderful catalyst to bring up old memories. Some are delightful and some considerably less pleasant. Gracious, I don’t remember some of the styles of those long-ago years and am amazed I ever looked so young. As the joke goes, my skin could use ironing now.

Following family history through first steps, first haircuts, first days of school—be it first grade or college, is an emotional journey. It’s usually the highlights of life that are recorded in a scrapbook. Mostly good things make it onto the pages, but they can awaken surrounding memories long-ago put aside. For us, the most dominant emotion from this jog back through history is gratefulness. For all the ups and downs of life, God has been there with us even when we had no idea of His interest in each human being or the magnitude of His love. Looking back, we can see His mercies and grace where at the time we didn’t know how much He cared nor how much He wanted to be the center of our lives. We can thank Him now for the things we took for granted back then.

One doesn’t require a scrapbook to look back on the good and bad in a life. It increases the benefit if we take our memories to God and ask Him to help us see Him in the good and, with his help, discover a better way of looking at the bad. He can help us move pass the griefs and regrets in life and go forward with a heightened sense of His presence for our future. Ask for His blessing for our days and for His guidance. Pray that we discern His unfailing love all the days of our lives.