Today, Janet and I took our grandson, Connor, back to the University of Cincinnati after he came home for a weekend visit. Our daughter, Kristin, went with us and as Connor gave us a tour of the campus, memories came flooding back about my own college days. It is clear that Connor absolutely loves his college experience so far – and that is vastly different from my university recollections.
Frankly, I couldn’t stand my college experience. My parents couldn’t afford for me to go to the school that I really wanted and, in fact, after I settled for a lesser school, I had to commute to campus each day as the costs of staying at school were just too much for our family to consider. And that vivid memory has haunted me in that I don’t ever want any of our grandchildren to have the same sullen experience.
On a happier note, I was transported back to earlier this year when the family discussed favorite memories – not those that are sad or painful. This summer, after Connor’s graduation from high school, we had a party for him and during that celebration, each member of the family related their favorite memory with Connor. I remembered the day that he was born, our first grandson, and how special that day was. And then, I smiled as I remembered a trip to Virginia when he was very young.
We had stopped at a roadside rest stop in Virginia and I pointed out to Connor that there were rules about using public restrooms. Rule #1 was something he should never forget – you were never supposed to smoke in a bathroom. Of course, he started laughing – he was three or four at the time – but that event has become part of the legend of the family and each of our grandchildren has had to memorize Rule #1 from the time they were old enough to laugh at my joke.
Connor recounted that moment as one of the best memories he had – and I remember it like it was yesterday. Sometimes, it is the spur of the moment stuff that comes to light and creates a memory that is impossible to forget. And so it is with life…
During Connor’s gathering earlier this summer, I started to wonder what God would say are His favorite memories with each of us. After all, He created us. And since God has foreknowledge of what each of us will do, God’s favorite memories of us are known to Him before they even occur in real time. Of course, this idea got pretty deep very quickly and I finally landed on the thought that God’s favorite memories of us were probably known to Him at the moment that He thought about creating each of us.
In other words, God’s favorite thoughts of us were included in the planning process when He created our innermost being. And I wonder if God loves us so much that every memory He has of us is a favorite memory. Our verse for tonight highlights the fact that God knows all about us – before even one day of our lives comes to pass.
The psalmist tells us, in Psalm 139:13-16, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
My encouragement this evening is that we are, indeed, loved by God and He has wonderful memories with us – some of which haven’t even occurred yet! My prayer is that we will try to live God centered lives and make sure that we consult Him before we move forward in our own power so we can maximize the number of great memories we will have with friends and family members throughout our entire lives! Have a great day in the Lord grace and peace…