I love the Old Gospel Song Precious memories by J.F.B. Wright.
Precious mem'ries, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.
Refrain:
Precious mem'ries, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.
I sat in the doctor's office on Wednesday. We were in this small holding room for about an hour, so I became acquainted with these two older ladies to my right and left. They were talking about their grown children, weddings, and the world in general, just many memories from their lives. One of the ladies had her mom sitting beside her. From all the evidence, I believe either dementia or Alzheimer's was at play. She would constantly remind her where she was and what she had done and describe the people she was talking about to jog her memory. Later on that night, while resting on the couch, I had a memory pop up of my sweet daddy. I was wearing his watch, and it said, "Counting down the minutes until you are wearing this again." The memory went straight to my heart's tender place. I thought, why does Facebook remind me of all the pain we felt? But almost instantly, my mind returned to the waiting room and the lady sitting to my left. It sent a dagger through my heart, thinking of how painful it would be to have someone physically, but their memories be lost in time mentally. I thanked God for the memory He allowed me to have and even for the pain, which meant I experienced great love. I prayed for the woman who was facing a monumental heartache in her care for her mother.
It was a reminder that Christmas is a time to love one another more deeply. It's during this time when losses and troubled situations seem exponentially more enormous and the pain ever greater. However, it can also be an even bigger time of healing, love, and kindness. During this magical season, it always seems like our hearts are a little more open, tender, and forgiving. So, as we enter this time with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in hand, where can we be that light that shines for others? What blessing can we give the elderly who have no one this Christmas? What love can we show the children who are abandoned? What opportunity do we have to feed and clothe those with nothing? Where can we plant our roses, so they will bloom in December!
In God's word this is what He says in Mathew 25 (ESV),
"35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
Precious mem'ries, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.
Refrain:
Precious mem'ries, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.
I sat in the doctor's office on Wednesday. We were in this small holding room for about an hour, so I became acquainted with these two older ladies to my right and left. They were talking about their grown children, weddings, and the world in general, just many memories from their lives. One of the ladies had her mom sitting beside her. From all the evidence, I believe either dementia or Alzheimer's was at play. She would constantly remind her where she was and what she had done and describe the people she was talking about to jog her memory. Later on that night, while resting on the couch, I had a memory pop up of my sweet daddy. I was wearing his watch, and it said, "Counting down the minutes until you are wearing this again." The memory went straight to my heart's tender place. I thought, why does Facebook remind me of all the pain we felt? But almost instantly, my mind returned to the waiting room and the lady sitting to my left. It sent a dagger through my heart, thinking of how painful it would be to have someone physically, but their memories be lost in time mentally. I thanked God for the memory He allowed me to have and even for the pain, which meant I experienced great love. I prayed for the woman who was facing a monumental heartache in her care for her mother.
It was a reminder that Christmas is a time to love one another more deeply. It's during this time when losses and troubled situations seem exponentially more enormous and the pain ever greater. However, it can also be an even bigger time of healing, love, and kindness. During this magical season, it always seems like our hearts are a little more open, tender, and forgiving. So, as we enter this time with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in hand, where can we be that light that shines for others? What blessing can we give the elderly who have no one this Christmas? What love can we show the children who are abandoned? What opportunity do we have to feed and clothe those with nothing? Where can we plant our roses, so they will bloom in December!
In God's word this is what He says in Mathew 25 (ESV),
"35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
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