Some things are just too important to forget. And more than just our private memories we often look for some external display to commemorate the important moments of our life.
Most cities and even small towns have a memorial or plaque commemorating significant persons and events of the community. Museums are also dedicated to telling the story of a people – whether highlighting certain achievements or simply providing a space to share important moments of the past. These displays are nothing new and not always elaborate. For instance, the prophet Samuel simply took a large stone and raised it as a memorial to remember how God helped his people.
This practice of external commemoration is good for us personally as well – to find meaningful ways to express the significant moments of our life and relationships. External markers help to affirm our internal realities and the deep movements of our soul that are hard to name otherwise. As class rings help us to honor academic achievements and wedding bands provide a visual reminder of our marriage bond, we might also want to mark seasons of parenthood, recovering from a major illness, or overcoming a particularly hard season in our relationships. Whatever the case, the major moments of our life often need to be commemorated.
In fact, these concrete expressions help our soul to process the life altering aspects of our story. For example, healing is promoted when there’s a clear acknowledgment that past wounds matter and are no longer ignored. And like Samuel, these markers can also keep us grounded and remind us of God’s work in our life. He has come through for us before and will do so again.
Whether planting a tree, dedicating a knife, writing a poem, crafting a plaque or the like – commemorate the important moments of your life.
Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash
