Of course, it is all in the memories. Memories of people, memories of experiences, and memories of the love that was felt and shared at the time they were made. It kind of reminds me of the tradition of communion, and Jesus' words, "This do in remembrance of me." Love is kindled again by these traditions and these memories. That's the way I feel when I decorate our Christmas tree. Each ornament was bought to help Fran and I remember a time we had together, or a family member's interests, etc. And together, these memories make up a beautiful symbol of our lives together.
When I was growing up, I learned to re-use gift boxes. We had one box that was hideously ugly--an oddly-shaped hosiery box with vertical stripes in various shades of purple and yellow. It was about as far from the Christmas-y look as a box could be. We joked about it, and every year Mom gave me something in that box with a "ribbon" around it made of yellow elastic and three yellow felt bells glued on it. It was always so fun to ask on Christmas morning, "What's in the ugly box this year?!" That box was a symbol of our "inside joke," and I always felt Mom's love around me when I saw that she had remembered to include it for me under the tree.
In thinking about today's devotional question, I'm realizing that most of the love-encircling traditions in my life involve connections with family. I am feeling very blessed! 💝
Of course, it is all in the memories. Memories of people, memories of experiences, and memories of the love that was felt and shared at the time they were made. It kind of reminds me of the tradition of communion, and Jesus' words, "This do in remembrance of me." Love is kindled again by these traditions and these memories. That's the way I feel when I decorate our Christmas tree. Each ornament was bought to help Fran and I remember a time we had together, or a family member's interests, etc. And together, these memories make up a beautiful symbol of our lives together.
When I was growing up, I learned to re-use gift boxes. We had one box that was hideously ugly--an oddly-shaped hosiery box with vertical stripes in various shades of purple and yellow. It was about as far from the Christmas-y look as a box could be. We joked about it, and every year Mom gave me something in that box with a "ribbon" around it made of yellow elastic and three yellow felt bells glued on it. It was always so fun to ask on Christmas morning, "What's in the ugly box this year?!" That box was a symbol of our "inside joke," and I always felt Mom's love around me when I saw that she had remembered to include it for me under the tree.
In thinking about today's devotional question, I'm realizing that most of the love-encircling traditions in my life involve connections with family. I am feeling very blessed! 💝