Memories fill the pages of our lives

A decision to refurbish my antique trunk revealed a personality trait in me. I’m a “keeper.”

Cards of all kinds, love notes, newspaper clippings, fair ribbons, photo albums … you name it and I had it in my trunk.

Looking through all the stuff and the “remember whens … ” I thought, I can’t keep everything. I picked up another card: “Dear Mom. Happy Mother’s Day. I want you to be happy because I’m happy you’re my mom.”

“Will you be my valentine? You’re the best wife I ever had.” (What’s with this? I’m the only wife he ever had!)

“Dear Mrs. Clayton, you are the best teacher in the world. I wish you were my mother.”

I kept sorting out of my trunk, celebrating birthdays and holidays past. I relived precious moments in the tokens of love of those dear to my heart. I sat in the floor and cried my way through my keepsakes, and would you believe I put them all back in the trunk?

They are just too important to me.

God honors special days too.

The 12th chapter of Exodus tells about The Feast of the Passover. It was to be an annual holiday in honor of the night the Lord “passed over” the homes of the Israelites, saving the first- born because the blood of a lamb was placed over the doorframes.

The Feast of Purim is celebrated by many because Queen Esther’s bravery saved an entire nation. Her words “If I perish, I perish” displayed the strength of her loyalty and faith.

Righteous living leaves a memorial of remembrances: “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7 NIV).

God is big on families. So am I.

In fact I believe strong families build a strong nation. Children who are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord make a healthy society.

Families and reunions are important to us because we see loved ones again. All too soon it is time to leave and it’s crying time for me. I hug and kiss one more time. I am sad for awhile until I remember that the greatest reunion of all is yet to be.

We will see those departed loved ones again. We will have new bodies. It’s a wonderful place with no sorrow or pain. Will it not be the most glorious time of our lives? Think of it. We’ll get to see Jesus, face to face. I’ll get to hug him and tell him a million “Thank yous.” I have a “trunk load” of memories to thank him for.

Meanwhile, my trunk of memories have filled my life with joy. They are memorials built upon biblical principles.

I’m glad I’m a keeper!

Maybe I’ll just redo the outside of my trunk.

Joan Clayton is a retired teacher, Portales resident and published author. Her e-mail address is:

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