A few nights ago I was standing outside under a starry sky.  As I turned toward our house, the moonlight was glinting off our metal roof.  It’s hard to explain, but my breath caught in my throat, and I felt like I was a small child seeing the moonlight on the tin roof of our old, rural Pennsylvania farmhouse.  I can’t even be absolutely sure that I actually saw that scene in real life because I would have been only 3 or 4 years old.  Yet I couldn’t deny the familiar peaceful feeling that rose up from the depths of my heart at this sight.  Perhaps my memories of that period of my life are stronger and sweeter because it was a time when we were a happy, contented family of three in our own little house on a small farm.  Sweet times cut short never to be repeated.

Enough of my memories!  I’d really love it if you did the following exercise with your own memories.  I promise there is a good reason I’m asking you to do this.  Close your eyes and think of a happy childhood memory before you were the age of 12 that happened on a normal, average, routine day, ie not a holiday.

First, think of a food that you enjoyed.  Maybe a simple snack of bread and jam after school, or a dessert you relished.  Where did you eat it?  Who prepared it for you?  Who did you eat it with?

Can you recall hearing something as a child that was pleasing?  Maybe a favorite song, or the wind in the trees, or your siblings laughing.  Where were you?  Who were you with?

Think of a time when something smelled especially good.  Perhaps it was a flower, food cooking, or a campfire.  Where were you?  Who was with you?

How about touching something that delighted you?  Feeling the soft, warm fur of a pet, the feel of your favorite blanket, or a hug from a grandparent.  Where were you?  Who were you with?

Now think of something you liked to look at as a child.   Maybe seeing your family around the supper table, a view out your window, books, or falling snow.  Where were you?  Who were you with? 

I’m guessing that at least some of these satisfying memories involved an adult.  Even the times you were just looking out the window or petting an animal, it’s likely that an adult family member or friend provided the environment for that activity to happen- their house, for instance, or their food, or a pet they had gotten you.

The point of this exercise is to remind us that now we are the adults who can provide the atmosphere and place for children to make happy memories.  Our loving attitude sets the stage for good memories.  When we give the gift of caring involvement in a child’s life, we are building lasting, happy memories.  

We all have faulty memories.  We remember only partially.  There are scattered snapshots in our heads of our past.  And so, we as adults don’t get to pick which snapshot a child will hold in their memory.  This makes it of paramount importance that we guard our attitude toward the children in our lives and guard our mouths.  Harsh words or impatience cut a child’s heart deeply.  For instance, one of my cousins grew up at a distance from our grandparents.  On one visit, our grandfather spoke harshly to him concerning a minor, childish action.  His tone of voice and impatience are one of the few memories my cousin has of our grandfather.  How sad.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”  Matthew 18:10

Let’s value the day-to-day moments with children. There is no guarantee of another day with them.  There is a guarantee that they will grow up and make their own lives which may or may not include us.  Let’s make the most of each minute together now.  Let’s value children like Jesus did.  Let’s be the agents of Jesus and bless the children in our lives!

“One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”  Luke 18:15-17

“Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”  Mark 10:16

God uses the weak to confound the mighty.  A tiny, helpless baby’s coos show God’s creative power.  Even those who hate God can’t argue against it.  A child’s faith can shame adults who oppose God.

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”  Psalm 8:2

The importance of this concept of children shutting down the aggression of God-haters was applied and reiterated by the Lord Jesus. When confronted by his detractors, he responded that the children celebrating him were doing exactly what God ordained.  His enemies couldn’t argue.  Let’s not underestimate the power of children!

“The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.  “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.  “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” Jesus quoting Psalm 8:2 in Matthew 21:14-16.

In view of the intrinsic worth placed on children by God, let’s be adults who cherish and teach them.

“We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.”  Psalm 78:4

PS. Did you actually take time to reminisce?  Good memories are gifts from God and they can motivate us to pay it forward.