Remember when...

Precious memories from your past are often prompted by an unexpected smell, a special flavor on your taste buds, or a sentimental setting. Any of these physical encounters could trigger a fond remembrance; thereby stimulating your senses to re-experience the memory all over again.

For example, have you ever tasted a piece of pizza that reminded you of those rectangular slices of pizza that came on your lunch tray at school? They had a very distinct taste and when you taste something today that resembles that school pizza taste, your mind rushes back to a time when life was simple and pizza day at school was awesome!

Perhaps, a fragrance or scent reminds you of your grandmother or grandfather? When you sense that smell, you are instantly flooded with memories of going to your grandparents and how special they treated you when you were little.

Maybe, you are at a flea market and see an old tool that your grandpa had and your mind rushes back to a time when he and you used it to build something. You did not have to have a specific need to build something. You just had to have an idea and grandpa jumped all in to help you build it.

Possibly, you picked up a piece of material at the store and it felt just like the kitchen apron your grandma wore. You clutch the material tightly in your hand because you remember how precious she looked when she turned around and wiped her hands in it and smiled, signaling that the cookies would be done shortly.

How sentimental those memories are when they sneak up on you. Sometimes you laugh, sometimes your eyes tear up. But one thing is for sure, it was such a sweet memory created in a moment of your life that forever touched you and still continues to cultivate emotions even today when remembered.

Recently on a trip to see my youngest grandson in Tennessee, I saw beautiful countryside that included an assortment of places that looked old, broken down, or vacant. I started taking pictures so I could share them with you this month in my blog. Each picture prompted the recall of a sweet memory from my childhood.

For example, look at this tree in the front yard of this house in the country. It may look like just a regular ‘ole tree to you, but to me I see my grandmothers, my aunts, and my mom sitting under that tree shelling peas or butterbeans, shucking corn, or making pepper hash. Just the memory of that homemade pepper hash makes my taste buds water. I can still hear the sound of an empty hull as it hit the bucket. And what wonderful conversations we had around those buckets of peas. I guess today, it was the outdated version of snap-chat. LOL.

Look at this picture of an old barn with a John Deere tractor parked under the shelter. It makes me think about all those early mornings trying to wipe the sleep out of your eyes because grandpa needed your help on the farm that day. And oh, the smell of freshly tilled dirt! Remember how those plowed rows had to be straight because the men would compare their plowing skills. I can still feel the wooden hoe in my hands as I chopped weeds from those long farm rows. Can you still taste how good that nab and Pepsi were sitting on a 5-gallon bucket during your break? And what about those conversations about random things in life or what you were going to do when you got off work? It was a simple life and sweet memories for sure.

Look at this old tobacco barn. Just seeing it carries you back to a time when you had sappy hands and smelled like a barned tobacco leaf. Can’t you just hear those fun conversations you had with family and friends who helped in the field? Do you remember who had the silliest laugh? Do you remember who always had a good “well what happened was” story? How about the distinct sound of that barn door closing behind you?

Here is someone’s deer stand. Can you imagine the stories told in there while waiting for a deer? How many times did you fall asleep in that deer stand waiting for those early morning deer? Remember the feeling of anxiousness while trying to sit quietly so you would not scare off any deer? Can you smell the wood that you used to help grandpa build that deer stand? Can you still feel the breeze as it brushes through the trees outside the deer stand? Do you still remember what the gun powder smelled like when you fired the shotgun or maybe how hard it kicked when you shot it? Memories of precious moments spent with loved ones.

What about this front porch? Can you imagine how many glasses of sweet tea were drunk on this porch? Do you remember the laughter of cousins and the smell of a fresh square cake that grandma had cooked in case she had company? I remember every Sunday afternoon after church; all our cousins would go to our grandparents’ house and play in the yard. We were swinging from trees, playing kick ball, or playing red light-green light. Do you remember the adults telling secrets on the front porch or whispering about the neighbors? Sunday afternoon was better than Saturday morning cartoons!

How about this picture of an old store? Remember going to town with one quarter and a few nickels, dimes, and pennies in your pocket because you had just finished your chores and the money was ‘burning a hole in your pocket’? You were so excited to go to town and get some candy with all that money you made! I can still taste the Mary Janes, tootsie rolls, and candy cigarettes. Do you remember trying to get to the checker table first so you could play with your sibling? Can you still hear a soda pop top clank as it falls into the drink machine? Wow, a simple life filled with joy, and we did realize how blessed we were!

In today’s busy world, we get so caught up in the organized chaos of our daily life. We are constantly going, doing, or planning what we are going to do. The Bible reminds us that life is just a vapor, appearing for a little time, then vanishing (James 4:14). In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we are reminded not to look at things which are seen, but for things that are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal. All those memories were momentary things that left a lasting impression on your life. Material things may come and go, but memories last forever. And when remembered, those memories trigger our senses to revisit those meaningful things with such sentimental value.

Ephesians 5:2 says, “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”  Proverbs 15:16-26 describes a simple life in the fear of God which is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 reminds us to make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind our own business, and to work with our hands as unto the Lord.

One common theme in all of these sentimental stories is that the people lived a simple life, valued family time, and trusted God to provide for all their needs. In the song shared below, The Lord Will Provide by Passion Music, the lyrics remind us to look at the flowers in all their beauty and to look at the sparrows who lack for nothing with no fear of tomorrow. Why? Because God provides everything they need and His love completely satisfies. So, seek first the kingdom and its treasures and everything else will be added because the Lord always provides.

I sometimes wish we could go back to those old days of simplicity. And I often wish that my children and grandchildren could experience the simple life of days past. We, as a society, have set such lofty expectations socially, physically, and mentally that we cannot keep things simple. This week, I challenge you to take the time to reflect on a time when you were at perfect peace, a time when life was simple. I challenge you to create a time and place where you can just go sit quietly and listen to the wind as it moves through the leaves in a tree, where you hear the buzz of a bumble bee as it softly lands on a beautiful flower.  Go to a local park and sit on the bench with your eyes closed and listen to a child’s laughter. Find someone old to chat with about old times and watch their faces light up with excitement. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life by serving others and create the sweet-smelling aroma of a God filled life. Walk in love and make precious memories along the way!

The Lord Will Provide by Passion Music

https://youtu.be/-29gTlsdCZ8

Disclaimer: I do not own the right to this song or video.