More Than a Memory Verse

When I was in school we had to read and memorize famous poems by authors such as Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson, Walt Whitman, and Langston Hughes. We had to cut them apart and try to understand what each phrase meant. Even now, when I hear just part of one of these poems, I try to remember how it goes and am reminded of the meaning. The great thing about school-age was just how easy it was to memorize...back then.

Well, our kids are given a new memory verse to memorize each week. I have just been amazed seeing how Alisia and Caleb burry God's word in their heart. Alisia doesn't just want to memorize the words, but wants to understand what each phrase means. How valuable this will be for her as she grows and is reminded of them later in her life. She also uses them to comfort others.

One night Caleb couldn't go to sleep and he was saying he was scared. He is NOT usually like this and I was just trying to minimize it by saying "oh, it's not a big deal, Caleb, don't be scared." It didn't help any. He wanted someone to sleep with him.

Alisia pulls out her armor and says "don't be afraid Caleb, Jesus is always with us." Then she goes on to quote the scripture she learned. "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9).

They started talking to eachother as if I wasn't even there! They were talking about God is everywhere and if you are underwater or on top of a mountian, and He is even in Korea which is far, far away!

Shortly after that we were in the car and it was rainy and windy and a neighbor was with us. She said she always gets scared when it is rainy and windy and thinks there's going to be a tornado. Alisia pulls out another scripture "For God has not given us a spirt of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) This obviously wasn't quite as comforting to our neighbor, who is just learning about God, mostly from us. But this reminded Caleb of their earlier conversation and he started telling her that God is everywhere. It didn't make much sense to her as Caleb and Alisia were trying to explain how this is possible. I sat in the front seat listening and didn't say a word. Just pondering these things in my heart.