Memorials for Children

Joshua 4.20-24.

Here’s a thought for parents — erecting memorials of God’s faithfulness for your progeny.  They don’t need to be fancy.  God had Israel build a mound of twelve stones from the Jordan River to commemorate crossing the Jordan on dry ground (Josh 4.20).  It was specifically with future generations in mind (Josh 4.21-24).  Kids are curious about such stuff, and they ask questions, which gives grandpa an occasion to tell them about the day God stopped the Jordan and led His people across.  A mound of twelve stones isn’t fancy even by ancient standards.  And by today’s standards?  It has no visuals or sound track.  It can’t put the kids “there” through special effects media.  But it is God’s own way. “We’ll, they didn’t have the technology back then, and now we do.”  That’s true.  God has given us technology, and we ought to use it.  So shoot a home movie by all means and take a pic with your iPhone.  But also plant a tree.  “Seeing is believing.”  Yes, but seeing a video isn’t necessarily believing anymore — it’s more make-believing.  There’s so much fanciful stuff out there that kids are getting jaded. “What is real, and what does it matter anyway?”  Well, I think there is something to things sticking out of the ground — a tree, a rock, a stone wall.  And an old man telling kids about the day God answered grandpa’s and grandma’s prayer . . .   This is God’s way.  Maybe it should be ours.