Before I tell today’s Memorial Box Monday story, I want to share about what I alluded to at the tail of yesterday’s post. Our youth minister at church had asked families to share some ideas or thoughts on their own personal family times. We mentioned our Memorial Box tradition to him and he asked us to share at the next parent meeting, which was last night. We were very excited to share as this has become a very special part of our family devotion times.
I shared a bit of the history behind the Memorial Box idea and then Michaela and I each shared one our favorite stories (the dove and the toilet paper). We really hope some of our family friends will embrace this tradition as well. It really is the fabric of our faith, where the rubber meets the road, where we see God alive and working. So if any of you youth parents are reading this, try it out! You can click on “Memorial Box Monday” on the right under categories and read the stories we have previously posted or just follow this link. May you be encouraged by reading our stories and also be encouraged to begin recording and sharing your own family’s Standing Stones experiences. You will be blessed!
Today’s story is one I previously posted last summer, but it was before we had started our Memorial Box tradition. We were recently reminded of this story, More Than We Ask, and Johanna came up with a perfect Standing Stone to place in our Box, her ticket stub she had kept as a bookmark. So here again is that story, one of God’s love, one that shows how much He wants to lavish good things upon us.
From June 15, 2009:
I have a neat story about a blessing that God sent our way. A year ago in Johanna’s first grade at home we used the orchestra story of Peter and the Wolf as part of our music appreciation lessons. She learned the names of the orchestra instruments and enjoyed listening to the CD. Michaela and Benjamin also listened in and always enjoyed the story.
About a month ago I saw that the Missouri Symphony (here in town) was going to be performing Peter and the Wolf. I immediately thought of Johanna and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and take her on a date. I went back and forth trying to decide because I had just purchased most of our curriculum for the next school year and was trying to watch the budget. After several days I decided to try and forget about it and threw away the information on the concert.
Well this last Friday I got a phone call out of the blue. It was from a lady at church that I had only recently met and briefly spoken with. She said she had tried to think of someone at church that had kids (I guess we’re known for that!), that she had four tickets to Peter and the Wolf on Sunday, and wondered if we would like to have them! Wow! Despite our normally busy schedule, we did indeed have yesterday afternoon free and the tickets would make a perfect date for J, M, B, and myself. (I did invite Elijah along as well, but he opted to stay home with Daddy and Ami). I told her our little “history” with Peter and the Wolf and my dilemma and she was so pleased to share these tickets with us. We were both blessed!
So yesterday afternoon the four of us enjoyed free ice-cream on the rooftop of the theatre (special event because of the family nature of the program), a wonderful performance of Peter and the Wolf by the orchestra and ballet that acted out the story, and other musical pieces. We all thoroughly enjoyed the kid-friendly performance. I know this is just a small thing, but in my eyes it’s a beautiful example of how much our God cares for us. He wants to bless us with small surprises, especially when we’re least expecting it. He knows the desires of our hearts and gives us more than we ask, even when we don’t ask. Thank you Father and thank you to the thoughtful and generous couple in our church family!
The kids at the theatre last summer:
Johanna with a silly grin holding our Standing Stone:
