Stones of Remembrance

It was 9 months ago that this tradition started: this tradition that calls to memory all the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.  Daniel started this tradition in our family and we call it: Stones of Remembrance.

I remember our first celebration of this tradition, almost as if it were celebrated only yesterday.  The three of us were settled in the car, making our way out of our once home Wheaton, Illinois, and were heading to our new home, Columbus, Georgia.  We had just about reached the edge of town when Daniel pulled into a parking lot and the tradition began.

He read:

"When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 'Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying 'Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the jordan, from the very place where the priests; feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'  Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.  And Joshua said to them, 'Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you.  When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones can to you?' then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.  When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the jordan were cut off.  So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."

Joshua 4:1-7

The passage commands these twelve, chosen men to take a rock from the exact place where God's faithfulness was witnessed.  

After Daniel had read the Scripture, he reached into his pocket and brought forth stones.  Stones brought forth from Earth's Womb; stones brought to signify the Lord's faithfulness and goodness while we lived in Wheaton.

Stones of Remembrance.

Daniel and I, both with a stone in hand, sang and prayed and recalled and glorified and worshipped together.  Yes, even with stones in our hands, we worshipped.  With stones we gave life to our memories and with stones we remembered.

So it was for us here, too, in Georgia.  Except this time, we were breaking bread together at a restaurant, outside, under the darkening sky.  Together we called forth moments of the past, moments filled with the very presence of God.  Together we remembered, recognized, and re-told tangible experiences of His grace.  Like stones.

* Journey of Tirzah's sleep

*Ranger School date changed from June to July (giving us more time together as a family)

*IBOLC success

*Friendship with Steve & Meredith

*Neighbors with Jimmy & Anna

*Favor and success of Ranger School

*Closed door of RSLC and the whole process thereof

*One Thousand Gifts

*Deployment orders changed

*Protection

Yes, even the stones cry out (Luke 19:40).  

Throughout these next days as the movers come, pack and box all our belongings to carry them across the Country, these Stones of Remembrance will travel with us, their very own place inside the Tahoe.  

"And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there... so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever." Joshua 4:8 &24