Establish Special Places that Evoke Warm Memories
Remember the Eternal One your God. He’s the One who gives you the power to get wealth, so He can keep the covenant promises He made to your ancestors, as He is doing now. Deuteronomy 8:18 Voice
“I really want to take the grandkids to see Camp Cedar Crest one day,” shared Bill, my late husband.
“I would like that a very much, sweetheart,” I replied quickly.
We proceeded to brainstorm all the fun things we could do together as a family when Bill felt up to it and the finances allowed. That trip never happened because of Bill’s physical condition and our limited finances.
We have lived many places and served others in many capacities. One of the very best was at Camp Cedar Crest. It is a youth camp where he had spiritual breakthroughs in his youth. It was a place where we connected when we were both attending L.I.F.E. Bible College in the days that we were “friends.”
What a joy it was to return to this beautiful spot to serve in the background! I was the food service manager and Bill headed up the maintenance crew. We lived there for four years and left to be assistant pastors and then later senior pastors. The warm memories there are vibrant yet poignant.
After Bill moved to Heaven I was desolate with grief. Valentine Day was one of the hardest. I remembered his wishes and decided to take the entire family on the Billy Joe Sebastian Memorial Road Trip. We traveled to places that were significant in his life. The highlights were Balboa Island and Camp Cedar Crest. We refreshed old memories and created new ones for the next generation. What a joy to share this beautiful place with them!
Ask about special places your kids remember
You might be surprised at some of these. You may not remember the ones. My childhood memories are of the farm where Dad grew up. I also have a strong memory of a special Christmas where Mom grew up. I found a picture the other day of that Christmas.
Tell stories about the places that stand out
A walk down memory lane does wonders to organizing memories. Ask others to tell their version of the same story. You will laugh together as you realize how different these can be. Have you ever gone back to places you last visited as a child only to discover the rooms are so much smaller than you remember.
Accentuate the love and warmth
What were the expressions of love there? What food did you share? Where did you sit? What was an inconvenience that now is super funny? Create a verbal history that enriches the memories and accentuates the humor and reality of shared experiences.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the ability to remember. You have made us in Your image so that we can recount and reframe what has happened to us in the past. I pray that today as people remember the experiences of their life that these memories will be filled with hope and love. Thank You for the people who helped us through tough times. Thank You for the wealth of relationships birthed out of every one. Thank You for always keeping Your promises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
28 Ways to Honor and Love Series
For more inspiration on how to honor and love those closest to you during this season of love click here.
Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. Her books will inspire you to embrace hope no matter what you are going through.
