Why Making Memories is So Important

Shopping on Black Friday, yes as crazy as the thought seems, it is on my Bucket List. Not that I haven't experienced it before, but I wanted to add it to this year's Bucket List to see if I can find a way to put a positive spin on the day.

Yes, there is bound to be pushing, shoving, grabbing, fighting, chaos and drama while people simply set out to find the best deals for their hard earned money. But what if in the midst of all this is a way to impact people in a positive way. To show the true meaning of Christmas in spite of all that most people shy away from. From fighting for that coveted parking space in a packed shopping lot, to standing in endless lines, that seem to go on forever. What if in the midst of all this is the greatest adventure, the ability to show kindness, love and the true meaning of Christmas to the world.

What if instead of bickering over that parking spot, you let someone else have it? What if instead of complaining why they won't open another checkstand while in line, you find time to share a smile and a kind word? What if instead of rolling your eyes, while your waitress takes too long on bringing your order, you leave your comments inside your head, and thank her for doing her job as best as she can and leave a generous tip?

What if life that day was simply about enjoying making other people's day just a bit better?

All I know is when I look back on trying to remember what I got for Christmas last year, I honestly can't recall a thing I got. You know why?

Because it isn't about stuff, it's about making memories and spending time with people. I can tell you I remember waiting to decorate the tree because it was important for my oldest daughter Caitlyn and her boyfriend to be there to help. It was about looking through the ornaments we have collected over the years with the kids and remembering a time when something was important to them. Caitlyn's soccer ornaments remind us of how hard she worked to play soccer in Rhode Island and how she learned not to be afraid of the ball hitting her in the face. I look at the Sesame Street ornaments, and remember how fond Kailee, my youngest was at watching these shows on Television during her childhood or looking at her gaming ornament and remembering how much she loves to play computer games.

Each of these memories are what I truly treasure. It's why material things don't really matter. Oh sure, if you got a new car or something large it might spark a memory. But I lay you odds it's the traditions you create with your kids, the events you take part in, that will last forever. From taking your kids to see the Christmas lights and finishing it off with ice cream sundaes, or helping the homeless out with coats and a meal, to making Christmas cookies with your family. These are what matters the most.

I would encourage you to have your family write a letter outlining their favorite memories they remember from Christmas' past to share with one another each year. If you're like my family, you will begin to realize how much all those memories really means instead of all those presents they have opened during the years. Try creating some new ones this year.

Just like the movie, It's A Wonderful Life, even George Bailey realizes by the end of the movie, it isn't about stuff, it's about his family and friends that truly matter the most.

Material Possessions

One of my most favorite things to do over the weekend is to yard sale or garage sale. Yes, I am one of those early risers who seeks our the local paper, plots my plan of attack and spend a few hours looking through stuff people are selling. In fact some of my best deals have been discovered at Estate Sales! I don't always have a goal in mind but I do have a price point in which I won't overspend. For me, it's a way of helping people who are selling off what they have spent a lifetime accumulating and are moving on to a different way of life.

In fact just this morning I woke up with such a burden on my heart based on an Estate Sale my husband and I went to just last weekend. It wasn't even one that was published in the local paper. We were on our way to one yard sale when we spotted a plywood sign with the words Estate Sale spray painted on it. Through a series of negotiated turns and looking for more signs, we came upon a single story older ranch home. The front yard was overgrown with dead or dying hedges and bushes and the garage was open, revealing a mound of what appeared to be trash in the center.

We called out a hello to see if we landed on the right place, and a young teen ventured out of the house with his head down apparently in the middle of texting someone on his phone. We asked if he was in fact having an Estate Sale and where it might be? He pointed into the garage and said, "You can start in the garage and then in the house. It's all for sale." He never looked up just kept right on texting and headed back into the house.

My husband and I both looked at one another and wondered if this was for real or not. But like most explorers we ventured forward. The mound in the garage was literally piled high with boxes with stuff spilling out of them. Neither of us wanted to attempt tackling that pile and wondered what the house might offer. It was simply more of the same. Strewn all over the house it looked like someone had literally ransacked this home and all the remnants were left wherever they happen to fall. There were old figurines that lay broken on an old table, and just stuff as far as the eye could see. The young teen we met in the garage sat on a chair in the kitchen, nose still deep into his texting.

My hubby asked if this was his home, and without looking up, he said it was his grandmothers house. "If you see anything you want, make me an offer." He went back to texting. As I walked around and over piles of debris on the floor I wondered if this is how the women who used to live here, left her home or was this what was left after the family came through and just took what they wanted? As I looked at the books, records, furniture or stuff this women collected over the years, I grew sadden. Is this what our lives will look like long after we are gone? Will people come along and dig through our personal things, taking what they want, what they think they can sell and simply leave all the rest behind for someone to pilfer through? What about all the memories that they left behind caught up in the things they bought, collected or kept?

It reminded me of what God tells us about collect material possessions here on earth where they don't last and instead spend our time, precious as it is, collecting possessions in heaven where this will never happen. What a truly memorable moment for me. In fact, my husband and I talked about it as well picked up a few records and figurines that this is what lies ahead for all the stuff we own here on earth. When our time comes, people will determine what our stuff is worth and either keep it, sell it or simply throw it away. Nothing we buy in this lifetime will be waiting for us in heaven. It is simply passed down, sold or thrown away. Puts a completely different spin on what we think our net worth and value are.

In fact just this morning, my brother and I were having a conversation and he was sharing how one person he met had a net worth of more than a billion dollars. You would never think about it looking at this man. I countered his comment with I'd rather have a net worth of more than a billion dollars in heaven than one here on earth. Sure it might satisfy a few wants and needs for the moment, but I couldn't help but find my way back to the Estate Sale I visited this past weekend. Nothing lasts forever except what we do here for the glory of God and His kingdom. I think it's time to get busy and see what we can do now to impact what happens in our eternal home much more than the one we have now.

There are literally so many needs that need to be fulfilled and we have ALL the resources to help. Sometimes we simply choose to let someone else meet that need, but I feel God is challenging YOU to do your part and help. In whatever way you can. Perhaps its volunteering, sponsoring a child in need, or donating money to someplace you always wanted to but never found the time. Today is that day. Today YOU can make a difference. The best part is that what you do today to help the least of these in need with the right heart, goes a long way towards your heavenly home. Remember God is watching and He knows your heart and your thoughts. Stop waiting for someone else to do it. This is your moment!

1 John 4:20 ~ "If people say, 'I love God,' but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen."

Priceless Memories

I just finished reading the most amazing book this year, called A Marriage Carol. If you want to know what it's about, click here. What I took away from this book was it dealt with a marriage more than just on the rocks, this house was losing its foundation and was ready to fall into the ocean. Not mine but the marriage that is discussed in the book.

The couple was spending their 20th Anniversary heading to their divorce lawyer's office to sign the paperwork to split their assets and divide the custody of their children. 20 years of marriage. Wow! I could say that I commend a couple for making it that long. We all know that our marriages will have their ups and downs, their seasons of drought and at times where one or both of those probably considers what it might be like if we hadn't married that person. Most of the times, they remain as internal dialogue, never surfacing and remaining just what they were thoughts.

Yet in this story is a promise of hope, the promise that if one of them is willing to fight for their marriage it just might be saved. See in the story, there isn't another man or woman contending for the affections of the spouse, its just that have grown apart. The husband is spending more time trying to make it up the rungs of the corporate ladder and the wife is spending her time working on raising a family and dealing with the kids. Now they barely have two words to say to one another, and find spending time doing what they love no longer involves the two of them.

What both of them need is a reminder. A reminder of where they met, what attracted them to one another, what made them fall in love and enter the commitment of marriage. They needed a trip to the past. Have you taken the time to venture into the past of your marriage. To spend time remembering what it was like the first time you laid eyes on your husband or wife. What it felt like the first time they told you that they loved you, your first date. All the "first" times. See none of that has changed with our spouses. Just more time has elapsed to create more memories, more firsts. Our first fight, our first child, our first grandchild even, our first graduations. You get the idea.

Which leads us to where we are today, in our Christmas present. Time has moved forward, and we have been married now for quite some time. Long after the proverbial honeymoon period has died, and experience at being married is now a time of being settled, comfortable even. Yet we need that magic back of what those "first times" were like. Perhaps it involves nothing more than spending an evening reminiscing of those first memories. That's what we did last night. We spent time sharing our favorite memories, our first kiss, our first real vacation, our first time as parents...well you get the idea. As we both shared some of our favorite memories, you can feel the embers in those fires inside both of us, begin to become fanned and the fire rekindled. We just have to remember not to let the fire die out. We have to find ways to fan the flame of love in our hearts. We have to be willing to fight for our love, for our marriage, for our family.

We entered this world with nothing and we will leave this world in the same manner. We can take nothing with us. Not our homes, our vacations, our children, our money or even our status. It's all on loan from God. ALL OF IT! Nothing belongs to us, so it often amazes me why we cling so tightly to those things that are on loan to us from God. Yes, it hurts to lose things especially children and our family. Yet we need a reminder to give God thanks every single day for those things that receive daily. Need the ultimate reminder?

I got this as a status on one of my Facebook friends, what if you woke up today and the only things you had were the things you thanked God for yesterday? How many of you would literally have nothing to show for that today? I know I would have nothing yesterday morning. So why wait? Why wait for something to happen? Why not start today and thank God for every little thing that you have in your life today. Not just today, but every day. I think the attitude is contagious. To have an attitude of gratitude, not just praying for wants and needs but for thanks as well.

The one thing we do leave this life with is our memories. We will remember our family and friends as we enter into Heaven. That is the only thing plus our salvation we take into Heaven. Looking back at my personal memories with my husband, I realize I have so many happy times that make me smile just to revisit those. It's time we spend our time creating more to savor and enjoy in the years to come. Those memories are priceless and one that no one can take from us, not even death. How will you chose to spend your time? Making priceless memories or filled with a life of regrets?

I hope like me, you'll spend it praying about things your thankful for and living a life of beautiful blessings and memories! I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. You are all a big huge blessing in my life. You're not just blogging buddies or Facebook friends, but real life connections that unite us all! Wishing you and yours a very Blessed Thanksgiving.