The Open Door

Every day we are making memories. This picture reflects a memory made this Christmas, when surrounded by my grandchildren we got covered with dough and flour in the process of making Christmas cookies. There were cookies that looked like Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, candy canes, and several undetectable blobs of cookie that tasted just fine. Everybody got to decorate their cookies any way they wanted to and take them home to enjoy.

Aaron Millage/Special

J. Robert White makes Christmas cookies with, from left, Ryan Lillard, Ben Lillard, Meaghan Curtin, Jake Millage, Lauren Millage, and Hannah Curtin. AARON MILLAGE/

Of course, Christmas included so much more for our family than making cookies together. There were the wonderful worship services, the inspiring music of Christmas, and the children's choir Christmas music presentations. There was the visit to the Stone Mountain Christmas with it's unapologetic telling of the true message of Christmas. The family times were unforgettable for Janice and me and for our daughters and their families.

Memories are important, especially those that are birthed in family experiences. I have always been thankful for my Christian mother and father who raised my two sisters and me in a wholesome Christian environment. Christmas was always a special time at our house. Many of the traditions that I remember from my childhood, I carry on in my own household and with my grandchildren.

These are the things that make a difference in the long term. There truly is no greater calling than to rear your children and grandchildren in a Christian home and teach them the meaning of Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and every other moment of importance throughout the year. In fact, in the Book of Deuteronomy, we are instructed to use the everyday experiences of life to point our children toward the Lord.

At the beginning of a new year and a new decade, it is a good time to ponder what kind of memories will be created this year. Will they contribute to the spiritual well being of your family and others?

For instance, why not approach all your responsibilities this year with the determination that you are going to create memories for yourself, your family, and others that would be pleasing to God? You may be a Sunday School teacher. Determine right now that by the time you get to the end of this year, your class members will say, "I will remember this year as the most meaningful and enriching year I have ever had in Sunday School."

As a music, discipleship, or missions leader or a deacon or staff member at your church, why not make the decision right now that at the end of the year you will have created a memory of this year that surpasses anything you have done for the Lord in your lifetime? As a pastor, wouldn't it be a great thing if by the end of this year you would feel that you had given your very best and your congregation even commented that your preaching has blessed them more than ever in 2010?

One of my favorite hymns as a young person was "Give of Your Best to the Master." It has been a long time since I have seen or heard that hymn. That's really too bad, because we need to be instilling in our youth and within ourselves that whatever we are doing, we should do all for the glory of God, and, therefore, should be doing it with the very best of our ability.

As we enter this new year, I want to challenge you as I challenge myself, that in all of our ways, you will "Give of Your Best to the Master." The resulting memories will bless you, your family, your church, and all who know you.