Seems like the older I get, memory lane comes knocking more often at my door. How about you? No matter your age, if you find yourself reminiscing do not hesitate to invite the thoughts in.
Remembering good times carry a purpose . Allowing them to be rekindled just might help wash out something bad from your past. Let God use those good thoughts. He can remove a thousand negatives with one sweep of His presence.
The season of Summer brings me to a time of reflection. A time to reflect on warmer days and longer nights from the past. Days from my yesteryears when I was a child. Being a kid in the summer is one of those rekindling times I like to latch onto whenever the invitation presents itself.
There’s something unique about life when you are young and growing up that makes things simple….pleasant…memorable. Those times that develop you into being who you are more than you would have ever expected.
Here’s just a few of my stored up thoughts that are stopping by to visit.
You might find me in the summer of my childhood with a shovel in hand digging in my fox hole. I was determined to have the best army bunker a boy solider could have. A fox might have been envious of the hole I had dug for myself. A place of safety…a place deep enough to block out any invasion…a place to just sit and be different.
Not far from my hole sat a tree where Daddy had built me a treehouse. I could climb up and gaze upon my hole digging accomplishments while watching the blue jays fight for grapes off the nearby vine.
I remember summertime events that created smiles and laughter with loads of fun.
I can picture freeze tag that lingered until the fireflies flickered. Having a good aim was the name of the game when it came to rolly bat. Muscadine picking at grandmas ended with bellies full and fingers licking. Red rover, red rover was common in the green clover.
The churn becoming too hard to turn was a good sign that the delicious home-made ice cream was ready for scooping. Salty watermelon made a good meal after a go kart ride in the dusty field.
Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. Ecclesiastes 11:9
All of this remembering brings me to a pivotal chapter in my history.
God spoke to my heart while I was still young…while I was digging and climbing, playing and rhyming. He opened my eyes to the realization of what some grown men never come to see. That no fox hole would ever be deep enough nor any treehouse tall enough to overlook the sin I was born into. He made my heart tender enough at nine yrs old to know that I needed a Savior. God loved me and allowed me to continue to enjoy life but with a much richer meaning.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.
Psalm 16:11
He loved me so much back then and He still does today. He continually shows me and you the way of life. Life, not as the world sees it ,but as He designed it to be viewed and lived out by us. A life He created for us to enjoy. He freely invites us to be rekindled everyday with the joy of being in His presence.
His presence sparkles down into my living, exploding into a light full of His mercy and grace. So much joy…so many pleasures… forevermore.
Lingering Thoughts:
Do you have fond memories of your past that you can recall? If so, invite them in to stay awhile. If not, ask God to help you. Not only can they be good for your heart and mind, they just might have a greater purpose in you knowing how to reach out to help someone else. Who knows, you might find yourself sharing some of those thoughts with other people…hmmm… maybe even in a blog.
Photos supplied by Canva + title cover created by Create228studio
SUBSCRIBE and become our Friend in the Oasis! Lingering In The Oasis will supply you with every devotional, Be Encouraged Today, and all other posts as quickly as they become available. We look forward to having you join us!
Melinda
Love reliving those childhood memories through your creative writing. I can still see you, down at the end of the yard, digging in your hole. Such a simple task that gave you such joy. Good times. Thank you, God, for the gift of reflection and memories.