So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.â€Â . . . And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.â€Â [Joshua 4:4-7, 20-24]
Traditions don’t happen by accident. They are a conscious effort of making and recalling memories for the benefit of our children. Joshua was intentional when called the men to gather 12 stones to build a memorial so that the people of Israel could teach their children about the great things God had done. He wanted the generations to remember.
Building memories celebrate your values with the people you love. Investing in building solid memories brings tomorrow’s connections. What are some of the “stones” you have gathered over the years that trigger special memories this time of year? It may be the special box of Christmas ornaments. Grandma’s secret recipe. Dad’s watch. The annual trip to the cabin. Reading that favorite storybook before bedtime. Gathering stones reminds our families to reflect on the past years and share dreams to make us hopeful for the future. It is also a time to celebrate God’s love and His faithfulness to us.
The holidays are an opportunity to create events that celebrate our values. Consider the holidays and events listed and think about what values you want to pass on to the next generation.
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day
- Valentine’s Day
- Easter
- Mother’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Father’s Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Halloween
- Cultural Holidays
- Birthdays
- Graduations
- Family Nights
- Vacations
- Dates
- Reunions
The messages that are tied with these events build connections for life. Now, your children may or may not carry on the same traditions you have, but do know that you did your best, and your faithfulness comes back multiplied!