Joshua 4:6
We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future, your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ nlt
First some context: When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river, the water parted leaving dry ground. God asked them to build a memorial using twelve (12) stones. These stones would serve as a modern day – digital picture. God wanted them to have a memorial so that their kids could live the experience and hear the story, just like our family albums today. Our children may not remember the two-year old birthday party they had and the spaghetti they flung over the white carpet, but the pictures help them to experience it.
What can I apply from these 12 stones to my life today?
Each day we live we create memories. We create memories in the lives of our kids, our spouses, our parents, our friends, and even our enemies.
If our kids were to memorialize the events of this past week,
Will they recount hugs or hurts?
Will they recount love or lies and deception?
Will they recount humor or harsh words?
If our spouse were to memorialize the events of this week
Will they remember the times you spent together or the excuses?
Will they think of the beautiful gifts, loving notes, caresses or the verbal fights and the names you called each other?
My wife taught me this principle many years ago when Joshua was much younger and wanted to help me wash the car. All I could think of was how much it will delay this project and I grumbled to her. At that point she sweetly responded, “David – in your busyness, don’t lose an opportunity to create a memory for him.” Nuf said. From that point forward, washing the car has become a family project immediately followed by a water-fight.
No doubt about it, each day we interact with others we create memories. You can apply this to your friendships and co-workers in a similar manner. We have the power to determine what type of memories they will be. Let’s make them great ones worth remembering.
This is something we need to think about on a DAILY basis sometimes. This really hits home especially with the girls…Juan and I tend to do that with the girls every night at bed time. I apply that never go to bed angry phrase with the girls by recounting the day’s events and hearing how mean we were as parents for 5 seconds ending with apologies and a kiss for a better day tomorrow. Now if I can only apply that to Juan….I think secretly I enjoy stewing over a fight with him to resolve it by telephone calls ALL DAY and maybe even flowers or better yet the remote control !!!! Don’t tell.