Will our children have precious memories of their childhood? Or will they be bad? Memories provide a basis for the future lives of our children for blessing, or for bitterness and hurt. Happy memory making is one of the most beautiful things we can do as a mother. God is very interested in preserving memories from generation to generation. If it is important for God to organize things for us to remember, don't you think it should be important to us too? Let's look at a few of the things God wanted His people to do to help them remember His glorious acts.

THE SIMPLE THINGS OF LIFE - TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Malachi 3:16, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name."

This scripture tell us that when we fellowship together and talk to one another about the things of the Lord, that God writes it in His "Book of Remembrance." God is pleased when we fellowship together. This is a wonderful thing that we can also do together as a family. Not only does God record it in His "Book of Remembrance" but it also produces precious memories.

Recently I gave a message on "Making Memories." Before I shared, I thought I would call each of my children and ask them to tell me their favorite childhood memories. They shared a number of things but two were consistently mentioned by each of the six children. Firstly, they all said that they loved me reading to them.

I am so glad that this was a favorite memory, because sometimes I would be hoarse with reading. Whenever the little ones would get fussy, I would immediately gather them around and read to them. This always settled them. Also, each night before bed, I gathered the children around and read to them. We usually read serial stories with a number of chapters each night.

They were never content with one chapter, but wanted me to keep reading and reading. I loved these times too. Sometimes the book would be sad and we would all cry together.

The other favorite memory they all mentioned was the wonderful fun we had at the family meal table each night, where we all talked, shared, debated and communicated. Our youngest daughter, Serene, said that her best memories of all, were the family meal table and all the other times when the family would just "sit around and talk together." As the older ones left home one by one to get married, she grieved for these times. Her favorite times now are when the family all comes back home and everyone communicates together.

The family meal table was a special time in our home. I have always felt it most important that we sit together around the table as a family. We canceled schedules that interfered with the evening meal. I believe that this cementing time which establishes life-time memories is more important than the so-called pressing infringements that scatter so many families at this hour of the day. We would often give the children a subject to consider at the table - it always produced animated and often heated discussion which they loved.

We never left the table before opening the Word of God and praying together. Family Devotions is such an important part of the meal table, isn't it? I believe that the table is not only a place to feed the bodies of our children, but to feed their souls and spirits too. Bible reading and question time opens the way to talk about the things of the Lord.

Do you notice something else? The favorite childhood memories of our children did not cost money! They were simple. Often we think that in order to make wonderful memories for our children that we have to take them to this and to that - and usually these things cost money. Oh yes, it is nice to go to these things from time to time, but it is the simple things of life that can make the most pleasurable memories. It is not running here and there, but the atmosphere of your home.

Pearl shared that another of her very exciting things was when I would give them a little 'treat'. If the children were feeling bored and irritable, I would say, "Let's have a treat. Hide over here and close your eyes." I would then arrange some apples, raisins or pieces of cheese in a special way on each plate, sometimes making them into the shape of a face. How simple. But they loved it.

Pearl said that she could hardly contain her excitement as she waited for her little 'treat'. Would this be too simple for today's children? It is sad, isn't it, when children have to be entertained all the time and cannot be 'excited' about the simple things of life?

I feel sad that when many young people get together, that they always have to 'go out' or 'to a movie' to enjoy themselves? Have they lost the the joy of just communicating together?