The other night, Sharon and I took dinner to my mom and had two of our grandkids with us. These two little girls are like two little munchkins when they are together. They chatter like chipmunks. Giggling, squealing and running, not walking, characterize their every moment. Their joy and love for one another is obvious.

My mom lives close to train tracks so the girls repeatedly ran in to the house from the screened in porch and excitedly exclaimed, "We just saw a train! We just heard a train!" Oh, the innocence of little girls!

On the way home, I pulled off the main road and parked next to the train station. Thank God for little blessings, because a train was ready to take off. These two little munchkins jumped out of the car and skipped up to the fence. I sat in the car since I was double parked. Dusky light framed Sharon and our two tiny treasures. The sight of these two little ones holding their Grammy's hand while jumping and hooting like two little monkeys was more than I could take. Unexpected tears flowed down my cheeks as God seared this priceless picture into my heart. The brevity of life stunned me as I recognized I would never have another moment exactly like that again. Unbeknownst to me Sharon was crying too. Why did this moment move us both so deeply?

A lone train engine whizzed by the girls and it was time to go home. They climbed into the car, chattering with even more drama as they described to me what they had seen and experienced. And they started making plans for the next time we would stop at the train station. Yet I have a feeling the next time won't be quite as emotional for Grammy and Grand Dad. This was a unique moment in time that is now a memory, tucked away for Sharon and me to pull out as a cherished treasure when the two of us reminisce about our family.

Memories are precious, especially when memories are all you have. These days I have been reaching back into my own memory bank of church life. And the memories make me smile, sometimes cry, and other times rejoice that God has given me such a rich heritage of church life.

Do you enjoy your loved ones? Do you enjoy your church? Do you think of your church as a family? A safe place for making memories? Every time our church family is together it is another memory in the making. As life goes on, there will come a day when all I have is memories of my church family and vice versa. People come and go. Some, more than others, leave a lasting impression. No two events are exactly the same. No two worship services are exactly the same. I often come into our sanctuary and sit in the dark and the quiet reflecting on the great church I serve. Just like a regular family, we do not always agree. That would be dull. But we are a family with a rich heritage and an even richer legacy. To my own church family, I encourage you to value what you have here, friends. And for those around the world, look for the treasures of God in your local congregation and value the relationships that God has created to encourage you in your faith walk. Life is short. Memories become gold especially when memoires are all you have.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

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