Childhood Memories and Stories

Childhood Memories and Stories

Writer: Amanda Hinthorn, Director of Christian Education

Narrator: Bill Anciaux

 

“Hear this, elders; pay attention, everyone in the land!  Has anything like this ever happened in your days, or in the days of your ancestors?  Tell it to your children, and have your children tell their children, and their children tell their children.” --Joel 1:2-3

 

My kids know lots of stories about what my husband and I did when we were growing up to celebrate Christmas.  They see the ornaments from our childhood each year as we hang them on our Christmas Trees (Yes, trees plural. We have three).  We talk often about what Christmas was like when they were babies now that they are teenagers.  In fact, they have started asking great questions about our traditions.  Why do we eat pancakes every Christmas morning?  Who decided our Christmas Eve dinner would always be alfredo?

 

But, as we make our way through Lent this year, I have realized in our household we don’t talk about Lent and Easter memories.  I don’t think it’s because Dale and I don’t have them.  I know that we do.  Our first Easters together when we were dating were spent at Dale’s grandparents’ hunting eggs as college students.  I learned very quickly to only look for the green ones.  Dale had been assigned green eggs at birth.  All the grandkids had a color to hunt for.  Their new partners and spouses were a variation of their color.  So I became light green. 

 

However, I don’t think my kids know that story.  I don’t think my kids know any of these stories.  Why don’t we talk about this?  Why don’t we share the stories and make memories during Lent and Easter like we do during Christmas and Advent?

 

If the story continues, it's our job to share it.  Talking with kids in our families and faith communities about our foundational moments in faith shapes their foundations.  If they only hear stories from one time in our Christian year, how will they know and understand the importance of others?  How can we help them create foundational memories during Lent and Easter that will have them sharing stories for years to come?

 

I don’t know all the answers, but I do know this.  My son loves Fat Tuesday because we decided to make it a foundational moment in our Lenten journeys each year.  The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday we eat pancakes too.  We talk about the why of using up the fat and sugars in our home before we begin our Lenten journey together.  I cannot guarantee he will share this story as he ages but I do know this.  Last year, when I forgot to make the pancakes he made them himself.

 

God, you call us to share stories with others.  Help us remember that each day is an important day with you.  Each day presents us with opportunities to make faith memories that will help us move the story forward for generations to come.  Amen.