Holy Memories

Over the holidays, our friends gave us a most precious gift that is still bringing smiles to both our faces. Nineteen years ago, Nancy used her new video camera to record our wedding. On a tiny cassette, this treasure played only on her camera. She recently digitized all her old cassettes for her family, among them our wedding video.

Tom and I watched the video on New Year’s Eve. The experience was more than delightful, it was sacred. We saw our now grown-up grandchildren as our wedding party, so serious as they came down the aisle. We listened to our Pontypool teen choir sing. Recognizing family and friends was so very special. Still, I wasn’t prepared for the heart-felt joy that flooded both Tom and me as we watched ourselves saying our wedding vows. Yes, our friends gave us a precious treasure.

In our marriage Tom and I have been given the gift of friendship that has carried us through nineteen years of ups and downs. We have attended family weddings, celebrated retirements, mourned the death of family members. Born to us are more grandchildren, and now. great-grandchildren.

My life has been changed by a broken back, but I can still dance. Thanks to Dr. McReelis, I can see better than ever without cataracts or frightening injuries. Dr. Preston gave Tom a new hip. To watch with our friends the beginning of our lives together was a “Holy Moment.”

Today, we take pictures of everything – food, selfies, celebrations and on and on. Too often, we let these pictures languish on our phones and computers, forgotten. Maybe it’s time we all took a journey into the past. Memories can be special blessings.

This scripture, often used at weddings says it all.

“ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)”