Reflections on the day! Who is the keeper of the lore?

Dear Family of Love,

I hope that everyone had a good day today! This morning we celebrated Dad's life at a well attended memorial service and throughout the day. Lots of memories, tears, and a lot of laughs. Today was awesome. We all need to find strength in our faith and draw from it when we are in a place of grief and the fear of the unknown. A few weeks ago I hadn't any idea how I was going to get through Dad's memorial service and having my chemo pump with me at the same time. I left these worries with God and everything was made smooth and easy. I even had the strength to read the first lesson and led the psalm. Participating in the service this was was surprisingly calming and the Water of Life gently coursed through my veins. Spending time with family and the many people who knew my dad was energizing and strength giving. God is Good! We all need to take time to write down and hear the stories of our family members and friends. I think I wrote awhile back that we all need to appoint a person to be keeper of the lore! Who is that in your family? Tonight let's put together a keeper of the lore toolbox and have a time for prayer!

The keeper of the lore toolbox should include:

A voice activated recorder
Camera or video camera 
SD Cards
Pens to write on backs of photos! (Dates, places, and people)
DVD or Flash drives to keep old photos and videos on.
A series of questions that are open ended that allow for the family member to talk and respond.
A scanner to scan photos into the computer with.
A journal to write down stories if you don't have a recorder and to plan who in your family you'd like to have a visit and storytelling time.
Albums for photos
This should also be used for household inventories so that you have a concrete listing of your home's contents if there ever should be any need to insure the items for insurance purposes.
Tubs or boxes to keep precious memories safe.

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Dear God we thank you for the gift of memories and stories may we never take these things for granted.

God help us to celebrate life everyday and remember to give thanks for all of your goodness and abundance.

God give us strength as we mourn to be able to feel your loving presence and ask for help. 

We give thanks for all of our family members who are clergy and minister to our families in time of need. We pray that they may have loving people to minister to them.

We give thanks for all the young people who are graduating from school and are fearing what's ahead. Give them strength and purpose O God.

We pray for all of our family members who can't cope with death and dying may they be given comfort and reassurance that although our bodies are finite our spirits are eternal and that is what you see and there is nothing to fear.

God we remember the words of  Isaiah that were heard today:
Isaiah 61:1-3
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called

oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

And the Psalmist's words in Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5 The Lord himself watches over you; *
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and
your coming in, *

from this time forth for evermore

We lift up our family members who have asked for prayers for themselves and on behalf of others. 

God we offer these our prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances to you and in your name. Amen.

******
Good night dear family! I love you, you matter, you are not alone, and each day is a blessing!

With love, prayers, blessing and all that is good in the lives of you and yours!


Sara