WHO WE HAVE BECOME TOGETHER

Nancy Reagan was asked what was the hardest thing to deal with during President Reagan’s years of Alzheimer’s.
“Not being able to share our memories together.”
Her words summed up a lot about companionship.

One of the great joys of added years is remembering where we have been, what has happened, and what we have shared—some hard, some wonderful, but all connecting our lives together.

Who doesn’t remember great marker-moments of growing up:
the strength of daddy’s arms as he hugged you,
the gentle haven of mommy’s embrace,
the first day of school,
the first award for achievement,
the first time you were allowed to take the family car out alone,
the first date,
the first kiss,
the first time you told me, “I love you,”
the wedding and becoming one,
(and from here on a lot of our two memories merge into one)
the baby’s first cries,
the first time our child said, “I love you,”
the first arrival on the mission field,
the births of our grandchildren,
and on and on the list grows.

Throughout our 48 years of marriage, one or the other of us has asked, “Want a flash-back?” And together we will remember an experience or conversation we had shared years ago.

We are blessed with flash-backs from all over the globe—America, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Africa.

Flash-backs of faces and eyes of people whose lives we have been able to see changed with Jesus’ love.

Every memory is another link between our very souls.

Sometimes it brings laughter, maybe a warm tear, but always a sense of, “We shared that. It’s part of our lives. Nothing can take that away from us. In fact, it is us—it’s who we have become together.”

Too limiting to say we are the sum of our memories—certainly we are so much more—but what a great part memories play in shaping us.

I’m remembering a wonderful old song from my childhood days in church,
“Precious memories,
“How they linger.
“How they ever flood my soul.”

Thanks for the memories, Jean. I love you MTYLTT.