Precious Memories
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
04/14/2021
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren. . .that they may learn to fear me all the days they live on the earth and that they may teach their children. (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)
A recent scientific study revealed that the most frequently used phrase among teenagers is, “I forgot!” In fact, the study showed that each adolescent uses those two words an average of six billion times between the ages of 13 and 18. Not really. But I bet I came close to it when I was a teenager. “J.B., did you take out the trash?” “No, Mom, I forgot.” “J.B., did you mow the lawn today?” “Sorry, Dad, I forgot.” “J.B., where is your sister? Did you pick her up after practice?” “Oops! I forgot!”
In the Jewish culture of the Ancient Near East, the Israelites believed very strongly in remembering their heritage. It was a part of their very being. They often recited God’s many blessings to their nation in song. They held memorial feasts to commemorate past victories and God’s provision. They erected memorial markers. To this day, stories of God’s faithfulness to Israel continue to serve as a testimonial to His goodness.
Israel’s precious memories have survived more than three thousand years. They are not forgotten. In fact, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:6 that “these things became our examples.” We can learn a lot from past experiences. In this digital, high tech age of instant access to information, we are slowly abandoning the practice of passing down oral traditions to our children. When is the last time you gathered your family around the kitchen table and shared a story from your upbringing? Deuteronomy 4:9-10 reminds us not to forget the things our eyes have seen through the years. “Teach them to your children and your grandchildren,” the Bible tells us.
We need to store our life experiences in our hearts, even the painful ones, and pass them on to our children so that we can gain wisdom from them. “The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.” (Proverbs 15:31) One of the greatest things you can do as a parent is to talk with your children about God’s hand of guidance through the years. Let them know that you fear God and that He has been with your family every step of the way.
God gave us a powerful resource when He gave us a memory. Admittedly, there are some things we would rather forget. Yet, even the most painful memories have value, as long as we do not allow our painful memories to consume us. Bad memories only hold value if we turn them into something constructive by gleaning wisdom from those experiences.
How is your memory? Maybe it is time for a family meeting. Ask each other, what are some of your memories from years gone by and what did God teach us through those experiences? In a way, all memories are precious. We just need to hang on to them.
04/14/2021
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren. . .that they may learn to fear me all the days they live on the earth and that they may teach their children. (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)
A recent scientific study revealed that the most frequently used phrase among teenagers is, “I forgot!” In fact, the study showed that each adolescent uses those two words an average of six billion times between the ages of 13 and 18. Not really. But I bet I came close to it when I was a teenager. “J.B., did you take out the trash?” “No, Mom, I forgot.” “J.B., did you mow the lawn today?” “Sorry, Dad, I forgot.” “J.B., where is your sister? Did you pick her up after practice?” “Oops! I forgot!”
In the Jewish culture of the Ancient Near East, the Israelites believed very strongly in remembering their heritage. It was a part of their very being. They often recited God’s many blessings to their nation in song. They held memorial feasts to commemorate past victories and God’s provision. They erected memorial markers. To this day, stories of God’s faithfulness to Israel continue to serve as a testimonial to His goodness.
Israel’s precious memories have survived more than three thousand years. They are not forgotten. In fact, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:6 that “these things became our examples.” We can learn a lot from past experiences. In this digital, high tech age of instant access to information, we are slowly abandoning the practice of passing down oral traditions to our children. When is the last time you gathered your family around the kitchen table and shared a story from your upbringing? Deuteronomy 4:9-10 reminds us not to forget the things our eyes have seen through the years. “Teach them to your children and your grandchildren,” the Bible tells us.
We need to store our life experiences in our hearts, even the painful ones, and pass them on to our children so that we can gain wisdom from them. “The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.” (Proverbs 15:31) One of the greatest things you can do as a parent is to talk with your children about God’s hand of guidance through the years. Let them know that you fear God and that He has been with your family every step of the way.
God gave us a powerful resource when He gave us a memory. Admittedly, there are some things we would rather forget. Yet, even the most painful memories have value, as long as we do not allow our painful memories to consume us. Bad memories only hold value if we turn them into something constructive by gleaning wisdom from those experiences.
How is your memory? Maybe it is time for a family meeting. Ask each other, what are some of your memories from years gone by and what did God teach us through those experiences? In a way, all memories are precious. We just need to hang on to them.
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