Stones of Rememberence

A few years ago, a season of rest brought a lot of reflection on my part. Our family was standing in the gap between chapters, a place that offers the opportunity to look back on the past and have great hope for the future. In that period of time, we helped my mother-in-law clean out her garage and we found this old toolbox. I came to find out that it was actually constructed by my husband as a teenager as a first toolbox. It is rough and rustic, his initials carved in the side. It stands as a metaphor of the rough, messed up and sinful people God started with and where we have been. I've been staring at it, trying to decide how to best display this piece of his history in our home.

 

At the time, I was reading The Disciple-Making Parent by Chap Bettis. It prompted a conversation this morning with the girls over a pile of laundry about where we have seen God working in our lives. We talked about the amazing way that our house sold and how God has provided an amazing temporary place for us to live, we talked about a move Chloe made between gym's that spring. We talked about Daddy's job, what he does (well... the child appropriate version) and how grateful we are that God protects him. It was such a meaningful conversation, it's one we need to have more often.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

As we talked about our most recent sightings of God's amazing work in our lives, it dawned on me that perhaps the perfect use of this piece of family history is to hold our "Stones of Remembrance". A place where we could remember as a family.

I quickly gathered what few craft supplies I could find. Not much was available... so excited to get to the new house and get unpacked!

I may have sat and stared at this pile, trying to find my artistic mojo for longer than I would like to admit. What you see above is paint chips that I used to pick out colors for the new house, ribbon and floral wire left over from my brother's wedding and copper mesh that I bought and never used as a cabinet insert at the old house. I also found chalk markers among the kids art supplies. I also may have "borrowed" a few river rocks from my grandparents backyard... After some time, I started tinkering.

 

In the end, I came out with a finished product that I am super happy with. I decided to not just put stones with dates and events on it, but mementos from God's work on our lives. This has become a precious conversation piece in our home, a conversation starter about how God is still doing amazing things in our lives that is woven into the fabric of our family makeup. We have filled it with achievements and milestones. With stones of Remembrance to mark the journey God has led us on both as individuals and families.  We are excited to continue to fill this bucket to the brim with our Stones of Remembrance as God uses our family for his purpose.