Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/82

Contributor - Mrs. Sharon VanBeek

Title - Creating Memories

Topic - Family

Think back, back to your childhood. What are your memories? As children we could hardly wait to grow up, it took so long; now it is all just a memory.

What memories do you have of the times with your family? I remember sitting for hours with my family making Christmas decorations for our tree each year. I remember raising a wild baby rabbit, and catching tadpoles to watch them grow up in the rain barrel. I remember walking through open fields with my grandfather, and spending hours making dandelion crowns. I've talked with some people who say they have no memories of times spent with their families, doing things they really enjoyed, and I thought: how very sad!

As I look over my calendar for the past week, I realize I wasn't home one night. Over the whole month there were very few days we were home together as a family.

How about your schedule? How many days are you occupied this month? Even the days we are at home, how are they spent? Are we doing things which we feel need to be done around the house? Have we ever considered that those "essential things" which occupy our time will be there tomorrow or next year? We can always find something to be done; however, our families and children may be gone tomorrow. What memories will we have? What will our children's childhood memories be like?

I remember reading a poem on this subject, and to paraphrase a line: "in twenty years no one will know whether you cleaned your house today, however, in twenty years everyone will know you spent some time with your child". Have you ever considered setting aside a night or a couple of hours a week for your family, and for activities you can share the things memories are made of?

One family I talked with has done this. Their night is Monday, and after supper until bed time, they share as a family. This family time has top priority for that night and other things can wait until later, or be scheduled for another night. Their activities include swimming, playing games, bicycle riding, writing letters, dinner out, etc.

Although they share activities at many other times, they have found that setting aside a specific night each week, ensures that they have time together at least once a week. (At times our lives can be hectic and usually it is our families that suffer.) They have found it has also enriched their family life.

How about you? Could your family use some extra time together? I'm sure you could think up many more activities to create memories for your family.

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