Memories

Memories are funny things—they pop up unexpectedly and at the most random of times. They transport you from the task at hand to an entirely different time and place, all in the matter of seconds. I was driving home from taking my dog to the vet. It was an unusual visit to be sure—I never even got out of my car. Due to the worldwide pandemic and orders to stay six feet away from other humans, the vet came out to my car, retrieved my dog from the back and escorted him alone inside. The doctor called my cell and we had our visit over the phone. My dog was then returned to me and tucked safely in the car, and together we drove back home. The rain was falling and my wipers were swishing as we began to round the corner into my neighborhood. As I turned the wheel a song I hadn’t thought of in years came to mind; it was a song that my Grandma sang often, whenever we drove to the market together. As I veered right, I sang, “Here we go looby loo.” As I continued down the road, I sang it a second time and finished the chorus, “Here we go looby loo, here we go looby ly, here we go looby loo, all on a Saturday night.” I was transported back to those sweet, precious moments of long ago; suddenly there was a catch in my throat and tears began to well in my eyes. Many years have passed, but I still miss my Grandma so much. When I got home the rain was still falling, the song was still fresh in my mind, and in the warmth of the memory I was inspired to make chocolate chips cookies from scratch like she and I had always made. The recipe I used was the same; I stirred the ingredients and licked the batter, but this time I didn’t need a stool to stand at the counter. The years have stretched on, but my love for her only grows larger. I long for the day when I see her beautiful face again. And based on the promises of Scripture, I know that someday we will be reunited. And Jesus, our Savior is the One who makes it all possible.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”