I remember visiting Doris and her husband in their home.  His health was such that he was no longer able to come to church and I would take Communion to them.  On this particular visit during Advent, Doris was sharing a memory.  She and her little grandson were making Christmas cookies.  They were laughing and having fun, as flour and sugar began to spill over along with their joy into every nook and cranny of the kitchen.  Papa walked in to check on them, his steps making footprints in the flour on the floor of the kitchen as he proclaimed, “You two are making a mess!”.  Her grandson replied with a big smile, “No Papa!  We’re not making a mess…we’re making MEMORIES!”.

How true it is!  With every nativity I arrange to display and enjoy, every ornament I hang on the tree, every Christmas carol I sing, every Christmas Eve candlelight…there is a memory.  And all the while, new memories are being made.

My Colorado grandchildren recently moved there from California.  The last time I visited them on the West Coast, I walked with Anna to her school every morning and back home each afternoon.  We would talk about lots of things and enjoy the flowers.  I took her picture one morning along the way.

We had such a wonderful time together and as I was leaving to travel back to Texas Anna gave me this note…

I hugged her tightly and assured her that I would NEVER forget! In the days that followed she told her Dad that she always walked this certain way to school now because she could see the daisies Grandma loves and remember.

Sometimes it feels that memories are all we have, but memories are a gift, and they are powerful and precious!  Tomorrow morning I am flying to Atlanta to make more memories with grandchildren this Christmas.

Questions to ponder….

What is a memory that you hold dear?

Treasure the moments this Christmas.  We are all making memories!

nk