A Time To Remember

It seems that only when I meet an old friend am I reminded of something good we accomplished working together. Things we did just because, or as a result of seeing a need. Too often kind acts are forgotten despite the rewards it has given to the receiver.   In most cases that's the way it should be. But there is much to be learned and affirmed when we look back and see what good has been accomplished by our hard work.  

How often do we take the time to remember what we've accomplished in recent months? I'm reminded of a wise proverb. "Nothing is better than that one should eat and drink and see good for his hard work." Brenda and I spend considerable time doing the kind of work that is purely results oriented. 

Last weekend for example, was the busiest weekend of the year for us.  We shared in organizing recruits to fill departments for an annual district convention focused on family values. Assignments were a plenty. I would serve as Symposium speaker Friday morning.  The talk entitled "Being Raised in the Truth" was presented after months of revisions and rehearsals. It went well.  I also assisted with oversight of convention security Friday through Sunday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon the program concluded. Then it was time to help with convention breakdown.

Many friends remained long after the program concluded as this was the final convention scheduled this year. The atmosphere was exhilarating as young and old helped pick up, fold and stack over 1000 chairs.  The other 5000 chairs were stationary. The volunteers quickly but quietly completed the task in less then an hour. Everyone looked around for more to do while making new friends and greeting acquaintances they hadn't seen in years.  I saw groups of long time friends quickly forming as the evening transformed into something of a family reunion as conversations became reminiscent of days gone by.  By 8pm it was time to say goodbye. Long whispered bitter-sweet conversations ended with hugs and kisses as faint farewells filled the auditorium and small groups began to dissipate as old friends reluctantly parted.

Sitting in the stands watching it all Brenda and I were greeted by a long time friend we hadn't seen in several years. Later that evening we met a couple we assumed were middle aged newlyweds as they held hands at every opportunity.  After getting to know them we found out they were married over 16 years. To top it all off they are best friends with members of our family. It's a small world after all.

After lock-down we bid our new found friends farewell and headed down the highway toward our hotel.   We grabbed a pizza from the local strip mall and got back to our room by 9pm. Our eyes heavy from four long days of convention work we could have easily gone straight to bed. But this would be our last night in a hotel room for a while, so we decided to stay up an hour or so, talk and eat our late night meal. By 11pm we could not keep our eyes open a minute longer. Off to slumber land we went.

The next day we took time to remember what we learned during the convention program. We reminded ourselves of our privilege to be a source of support and encouragement to the next generation of single and young families and considered how we would go about doing just that. One way would be through letter writing.  It will be a time to share common challenges we all face in life and the best way to resolve or at the very least endure using wisdom of the ages. Each letter will be a time to remember what got us through it all and pass it on.

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