Do you collect things? A lot of folks do! I know people who collect salt shakers, glass insulators from power poles, automobiles, silverware, tea cups, plates, keys, key rings, coins, stamps, etc. I truly believe the list is endless.

Our kids were always bringing home mementos of our family trips together. Sometimes, it was a favorite walking stick, other times, a rock from the creek. Our granddaughter, Jessica, has a walking stick she picked up while with me in the mountains. I took my Dremel and inscribed the date and place. My wife, Pat, has part of a tree limb she picked up near Walden Pond, MA made famous by Henry David Thoreau.

As I was nearing the end of my high school career, our family had a bright red Buick Roadmaster. Many years later, I understand that my youngest brother, Don, went to the car dealer with whom our father had negotiated a trade, and swapped a silver hood piece for the gold one that was originally on the car. He wanted a souvenir!

I don’t recall ever deliberately starting a collection. The things that I collect are the result of someone giving me one or two items. Then, others, upon hearing about my new interest, add to my collection.

For instance, I have quite a few itty bitty frogs. I MAY have purchased the first one at a combination restaurant, restroom, and gift shop up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was made out of pewter and really caught my interest. I now have little frogs sitting all over my office, our bedroom, even in our den. Everywhere I look, there’s a cute little frog grinning back at me and claiming to be “wiser”! I also have some larger frogs now. There are a couple of Beanie Baby frogs. One of these is quite large and makes a frog- like sound when moved. Neato!

I also have acquired quite a collection of stuffed monkeys, apes, and gorillas! These come in all different shapes and sizes. Tim recently brought over a huge gorilla named George to temporarily stay at our home. I love George. Right now, he’s sitting on a backless chair across my office, staring at me with fascinating eyes!

As a matter of fact, one of my favorite critters is not a collection! He is one bear. He’s about the same size as a Black Bear cub. He came into my life just a few years ago, but had a history dating back in my family for many, many years. That makes him all the more special to me. He sits in a corner of our living room on top of a pile of bean bag “chairs”. Nothing or nobody escapes his gaze!

There are Raisin Guys sitting around my office. Many different sizes from the tiny ones that came from some fast food restaurant to one who sits about two feet tall. There is a Santa Claus, courtesy of one of my brothers-in-law, sitting on my work table. He is wearing a black, Blues Brothers’ hat, dark shades, and, when clapped awake, plays an awesome rock version of “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” while turning in a circle.

One of my favorite spots in our whole home is the bottom shelf of the sofa table. There are two extremely soft and cuddly dogs. My mother gave me one of them. Pat, when she saw how much I hugged that dog, bought me a slightly smaller version. There are a couple of Alfs and a number of stuffed Tonka Toy Vehicles which came from grandkids and a dear Net friend, StalledVW. On that same shelf is an old, battered Tonka Toy Truck. A dear friend found it at a yard sale and thought of me because of my Tonka Truck which I drove nearly 400,000 miles. When I look at it, I imagine some little kid driving that truck around the sand box, over the pile of dirt by the back fence.

Now we’re getting to the meaningful part of collecting things. Every time I see one of my collectibles, I fondly remember where it came from and from whom it was given. When people come to our home for the first time, they often comment about all the stuffed animals we’ve collected with which to entertain little kids. I let them know right away that “little kids” are not allowed to even touch my toys…that they belong to me and I want them treated with respect.

Okay, so what’s my point? Well, if you notice when reading the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently drove stakes into the ground, piled stones on top of one another, built altars, and sat around and shared their memories of past events from their history. Parents were specifically instructed by God to remind their children of specific teachings, miraculous deliverances, incredible feedings and waterings. Yeah, I believe these people had private collections of items that reminded them of their past.

There’s something comforting about affectionately remembering meaningful events and experiences from our own pasts. A little doo dad sitting around can help us remember. For example, in the Amplified New Testament, Paul tells the early church to celebrate communion (the Lord’s Supper) in order to “affectionately call to remembrance” the events of His life and death.

You may not collect “things”. We all, however, collect memories. We collect friends (and, sometimes, not-so-friends). We collect favorite Bible verses and stories. We collect answers to our prayers. We collect lessons we’ve learned at the feet of our Lord!

Let’s enjoy collecting little mementos from our lives if that’s our thing. Let’s also enjoy collecting the memories and markers of our lives with others and with the Lord!

If these thoughts bring your experiences to the forefront, I’d enjoy hearing about your memories, collections, and other memorabilia! Drop me an E-mail and I’ll get back to you.

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