Memories are an important part of life. Most people can remember their first ride on a bicycle, their first job or how it felt to drive for the first time with a license. There are memories of those who have passed away, stories they told, things they did.
Knowing how important memories are, we should think about the memories our families will have of us when we are gone. The memories our children have and will have should include us, not just our money or things we might buy them.
There is nothing wrong with giving our children things from time to time, but the main thing they should remember is how we were a part of their lives.
While memories of home, family and special occasions are important, we also should be concerned with memories of a spiritual nature.
Peter in his writings talked about people remembering things after he was dead and buried: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance” (2 Pet. 1:12-15).
Most parents make memories with their children concerning physical things, teaching them to play ball, cook, drive a car and many other things.
What will our children remember about our leadership of their spiritual upbringing? Will they think of a father and mother who opened the word of God, read it and obeyed it? Will they remember going to Bible study and learning about the love God had for them and all men?
It may be as they face the trials of life that those memories may be all they have to see them through those times.
Timothy’s mother and grandmother made memories with him concerning spiritual matters. “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Tim. 1:5).
The wise man Solomon wrote that young people should remember their Creator in the days of their youth (Ecc. 12:1). On their own, few children will heed this exhortation, so we who are parents must show them the way by our lives. Matthew recorded the words of Jesus as He taught about being an example to others (Matthew 5:13-16). We must set the pattern of devotion to God before our children.
Memories stay with us most all our lives; they make life enjoyable. We all should seek to make memories that will help bring future generations closer to God.