It’s Memorial Box Monday again and I was praying and thinking about what to write about today. Having been married for 30+ years and having 9 kids (and one on the way – okay, so she’s 7 years old, but still) our Memorial Box is stuffed with really cool God-stories.
It is never too late to start one and even if you are single, go for it! Having a Memorial Box helps us each remember how faithful God has been and it also helps us remember that even when times are bleak – He is definitely still working the night shift on your behalf!
So this is a fresh story: since the fire we have been told that one of the ways to help our brains come out of the trauma mode is to re-pattern our brains. The way to do that is to make things as familiar as possible. Now since the contents of our home are a loss that is kind of tricky. But we can do similiar things, to kind of trick our brain that things are normal (or at least are the new-normal).
For instance, the Boyd Bears so many of you sweet friends sent me I have put with a beautiful old quilt also sent by one of you in a cabinet we just bought. It reminds me of what we had. Seeing the Boyd’s next to the old quilt makes my brain say, “Familiar, relax, come back to normal”…I look at the Boyd’s and the quilt and smile all day long. =) 
It is also very odd and interesting some of the things I miss since the fire. I was thinking one day about a little chest I had some of the Boyds standing up in. It was a small replica of an antique chest. It wasn’t truly old, just made to look old and with the Boyds in it, it just looked sweet. But I’ve just kind of missed that chest, dumb as it might sound. I had been given it for being in a Leadership role with women in our denomination. And I haven’t seen any like it around, it was one of those “rare finds” to receive.
Then there are just the everyday things like: a needle, thread, a safety pin, Baby Tylenol, just for starters. The other day there was a little hole in something and I thought, “oh, I’ll just stitch that up in a second…” Right. After I go to the store and buy a needle and some thread. It’s not that I can’t go buy it, it’s just overwhelming to think of restocking the house.
Anyway, I have a friend. Her name is Michelle and she has a very gentle spirit, whose tender love for Christ just exudes from her. She and her husband, Mark, attend our church. She and her daughter, Angie, painted the babies room for us when I was in Africa. Since the fire she and her hubby have come to help at the house. They have cataloged and carried to the dumpster – they have been such blessings to us. Also Michelle has ministered so sweetly to us with her baking. She has brought the most yummy chocolate chip cookies and Trail Mix in big beautiful canisters, which are on my counter now. She has brought us bread on several occasions.
Yesterday at church Michelle came up to me. She had a gift for me. I peaked inside and almost fell over.
It was a little chest basically identical to the one I had thought of and missed. I ope
ned it and it was chock full of basic sewing supplies. I got all teary-eyed. I had never said a word about missing the chest or getting a sewing kit to anyone, and here she had put one together and she couldn’t have picked a more perfect box.
I am keeping it on my kitchen counter. It will not only serve to remind me of God’s faithfulness, but it will help my brain re-pattern since it is almost identical to the one that was lost in the fire.
So in our new Memorial Box we will have a needle and thread to remind us that God is faithful in the little things just as He is faithful in the big things. He cares about all our cares, even the ones that might seem insignificant to others. How I praise the still Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God – – – He is always full of wonderful surprises just for you too!!
I started the giveaway on this post. I have been continuing my search for a Memorial Box for one of you my sweet bloggy friends. So far I have seen some I like, but not any that I love so I am still looking! I even went back to New Mexico to look last week. Anyway, the contest will be open until I find one I love and so if you are interested in being part, please just drop a comment that you want to participate. (A Memorial Box is first explained here.) What would you put in your Memorial Box if you had one?
Love the story. Yes … God is a miracle-making God, in the big stuff and the small stuff.
Laurel 🙂
mama of 13 miracles
I’d put a baton…is that what they’re called? The lightweight metal tubes that runners in a relay race pass off to one another? I’d put one of those in my memorial box to remind me of you. To always persevere…because you, my friend, are the epitome of perseverance.
SOOOO can’t wait to chat with you…*giggles*..IN PERSON!
Linny, I get all teary every time I read your Memorial Box stories. Your children are so blessed to have you and DW as parents to continually share what an amazing God he is. They will know Him because you have shared your stories with them. I LOVE your new box. It’s so familiar to me but I don’t know why. Hmmmm. What a sweet gift.
Thank you SO much for sharing your Memorial Box stories! What an amazing, loving, awesome God we serve!!! I just love the Memorial Box idea and want to make it apart of my home. If I had one, today I would have put a watch in it because recently the Lord has been reminding me that His timing is perfect – not early, not late, but right on time! 🙂
One of the things I would definitely put in a memorial box would be Abby’s little puppy. Abby came to us at 2-1/2 years of age with nothing but the clothes on her back and a very tiny stuffed puppy that she loved dearly. It was worn and dirty, but her foster family in China had given it to her, and it was her last connection to them. We were not permitted to meet them, but they must have done a wonderful job. She is such a tender little girl that I doubt she could have survived long in the orphanage setting. Due to her spina bifida surgery, however, she was placed in an outside foster home. I look at the little puppy and think of God’s love and care for a disabled little orphan girl, and I am brought to my knees.
~Linda from Northern Colorado
I know exactly the first thing I would put in it. March 25th of last year as you know my 16 year old son was in a horrible wreck and almost lost his life. I truely know someone was watching over him that day and many prayers said saved him. When he first turned 16, which was 1 month before his wreck I have gave him and his sister both a key chain with a angel on it which said “Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”. A week after the wreck I had to leave the hospital for a bit, to meet a adjuster where my sons truck was at and they asked me if there was anything I wanted out of the truck. Let me tell you that once shiny beautiful truck was a mess and tears were streaming down my face as I imagined the ride my son took the last time he was in it. The truck barreled roll and threw him out and then landed on his leg before boucing off. There wasn’t a place on that truck which wasn’t harmed. I then looked at the rear veiw mirror which was still intact and there hung that little key chain still on duty!. I said “please if you can I want that key chain. The doors of the truck were so crushed and bent down they wouldn’t open and glass was busted everwhere but the guy who owned that wrecker shop, worked and worked until he was able to get his arm in and free that keychain. I carried it in my jean pocket the whole time Andrew was in the hospital and now its in my jewelry box, so that would be the first thing I would put in my memorial box. Kathy
teamlowe@yahoo.com
I have read your blog for awhile now but never posted.. I just wanted to let you know that you are a great inspiration to me. I am going through and have gone through several trials during the past year with my son and with myself; I read your blog and remember that I can make it throught this as long as I keep my eyes toward God. Thank you for your inspiration and reminding me to keep the faith… You are an amazing woman. I love your Memorial Box stories, everytime I read one I think of something I could put in one…. 🙂
Angie H.
angieaccoun@aol.com
In 2002, God gave me a dream job, but it would mean leaving the mountain town I loved for Dallas, TX. Dallas, the exact opposite of mountain ski towns. I reluctantly moved simply because I was an amazing opportunity but more because I knew it was what I was supposed to do. I hated Texas with everything in my being that first year. I battled depression and basically had a nine month pity party. I also gained 20 pounds.
In 2003, I made a decision to get off the couch and start living again instead of just existing. I figured God had had enough of the “Why” questions.
One change I made was to volunteer at the church where I felt God had called me. Not necessarily the church I wanted to attend, but the one where God had called me. This ministry was a perfect fit since it was what I do for a living. God used my volunteering to open new career opportunities and doors to ministry I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. Any wonder Eph. 3:20 is my life verse?
I also ended up making some life long friends in Dallas. The worst years of my life became the greatest though I still will not profess a great love of Texas. Wonderful people, but oh, too hot!
In 2006, God released me to return to the town I loved. I brought home a freelance career that continues to blow my mind. I have never marketed myself, but amazing doors spring open even now. When I walk into my home office everyday, I am greeted by a large Texas flag as a reminder of the amazing things that God can do.
Miss Linn, I am blessed to call you my pastor and my friend. I have heard many of your stories about God faithfulness and each one is so special and so true. You have spoken the truth to me by the example of your life and where you see God taking care of you. It is one of the biggest blessings of my life. Thank you. Love you girlfriend, Jen
It’s amazing to me the things we take for granted. What a sweet friend and thoughtful gift.
I’m still praying for you and your family.
a needle and thread. . . what a sweet reminder of God being present in the little things.
i know this is kinda not all warm and fuzzy, but i’d put a tooth that i’ve saved. one that has an orthodontic bracket attached. it is a reminder of how God met us on the day that our 8 yr old son was introduced, face first, into a brick wall at the hands of a 12 year old bully.
God met us in countless ways during that time, and now, 10 (yes, TEN) years later, He continues to pour out blessings. our guy had a bone graft surgery on friday, and He met us once again.
thanks for your memory box monday. i am so blessed by your remembering and telling.
and i’m also so thankful to know that tyler is well. what an answer to prayer!
Oh, don’t you just LOVE the way God takes care of all the tiny little details? I LOVE how His uses His Body to meet the needs of others—even when they are so completely unaware they are even being used by the Almighty. So much fun. Thank you for sharing such a sweet story, Linny.
It warms my heart to know that our Faithful Jesus is taking care of all the little details of your life. Just going about His business RESTORING everything that has been stolen from you. What a joy it is to sit on the sidelines and watch it all unfold.
Love and hugs!
If I had a memorial box, I think the first thing I might put in it would be a dead cell phone, to remind me of the time my cell phone did not work when I was in Sunday school class one morning, and so no one could reach me to tell me that my son had been shot in a hunting accident. Instead, a friend came to my church to tell me. When someone from the church came and told me to come with them and bring my things, I knew instantly that something was wrong. I have five children, but as I was silently escorted down the long hall to meet my friend, I somehow knew that something had happened to Sean – but God assured me that he was going to be OK. As my family gathered at the hospital, not knowing whether he would live or die, I was able to reassure his wife that I had great peace from God that Sean would be OK, which He had given me during that long, silent walk down the hallway.
For starters, I’d put our adoption papers in for our 3 adopted children. Then I’d put in a tiny little bear C got at 10 months old when she had to have surgery and she came through it with flying colors. Both definitely answered prayers.
I love these Memorial posts on Monday. It’s so neat to see how God takes care of the tiniest details. He truly is amazing.
Oh LInn,
What an inspiration you are to me.
I think if we were to get a Memorial Box the first thing I would put in would be a key chain from our current and ONLY duty station! It would remind us that when the Navy told us we were going to one place, that we had the courage to say …”no, God told us that we are to go to ______” They said that there were no orders there and that we did not have a choice, we would be given orders to this other place that next week.
When we called back that next week they said that they were sorry but the Navy was out of money and that we would have to call back in two weeks for our orders. When we did call in two weeks, the man who answered this time said, “why aren’t you guys going to ___(our current duty station)___?? We said that we would love to go there and he said “OK!” We have been here ever since.
What a blessing the Lord gave to us.
Blessings, Lisa C.
I am so happy that you heard from Tyler and will continue to pray for him. I love your Memorial Box stories! God is SO interested and concerned with every small detail of our lives and it’s great to be reminded of that! I think instead of a Memorial Box, I would probably need a trunk. ha.
these stories are such faith builders for me. thank you so much for taking time to share them. I look forward to them each week. I shared some of your stories today with a family that is in crisis and it was so encouraging. blessings
Linn – What a blessing you are to so many people – what an inspiration. And while you are also a great writer it hit me that most people probably don’t leave your blog thinking, “what a great writer Linn is. They probably leave thinking, “What a great God Linn serves”.
To point us to the Lord as our ultimate source of hope and inspiration is a huge gift indeed. Love you lots, Chelsea
oops – I forgot to say that I would put an IRS check stub for $10,000 in the memorial box ;).
I would put the hospital bracelet from the heart surgery I had at 14 years old in my memorial box. I had to reschedule a physical (in order to be allowed to play high school tennis – which I wasn’t even very good at) with my Dr. three times. Our gracious God arranged my appointment for the day after my regular Dr. had been to a seminar on pediatric cardiology. This man, who had been treating me since birth, took special care to listen to my heart that day and heart something unusual. At every step of the weeks-long investigation that followed every Dr. I saw said, “It’s probably nothing, but we’ll check just in case.” When they did the surgery, six months after the initial physical, they discovered that the hole in my heart was just a little smaller than a half dollar. Most likely I would have died of heart failure in my early twenties. How grateful I am that the One who formed me in my mother’s womb sees fit to deliver me from unseen dangers every day!