The days seem to get hotter and hotter lately and as I sit here typing these words, I have my box fan running to cool me off. The sound of the box fan is soothing to me. Listening to it running now, it isn’t hard to figure out why I find the noise so soothing. It reminds me of my grandparents. The noise of the box fan running on a warm day brings back childhood memories of their house. My grandparents never turned on their air conditioners until late afternoon, so they used their trusty box fans to help cool the house until it was time to turn on the ac.
I spent many a hot day trying to get in front of the fan in attempts to cool off. My mind wonders back through time, remembering days spent at their home, the trusty old box fan the background music to the memories being made. I didn’t know it then, but they would become some of my fondest memories. Life seemed to run at a slower pace at their house. I remember long conversations at the dinner table, with vegetables straight out of their garden. I remember sitting on the porch with a big glass of sweet tea after helping push mow their yard. I remember a grandfather who read his Bible every morning.
I remember the smell of my grandmother’s homemade cake baking in the oven and the anticipation of the treat that was to come. I remember long walks with equally long conversations. Even now, I can still see their countertop covered with juicy red tomatoes waiting to be canned. How I remember the first time I was allowed to help! We stood in that kitchen canning tomatoes, sweating from the heat, talking, and listening to the sound of the fan running in the background. It’s funny how many memories were made to the sound of that old fan running.
They were far from perfect but the strongest memories of love, security, and comfort that I had as a child were made in that old house with my grandparents. Their little old house was my safe place and as I mentally travel through those memories, it brings tears to my eyes. Summer days at their house are some of my most precious memories. What wouldn’t I give to sit at that little kitchen table again, eating fried potatoes and fresh tomatoes while their box fan cooled us off! Money cannot buy a meal like that, my friend! There is simply no comparison to be made!
As I sit here in front of my own box fan reminiscing over days long gone, I find that I am grateful for the memories I have of them. Not only am I grateful for the memories but I find that I am also grateful for the lessons I learned as well. I wonder if my grandparents had any idea how much they taught me? I doubt they did; they weren’t trying to teach me, that’s just the way they lived life. However, they did teach me and for that I am grateful. Their example spoke more than their words ever could have and I think that is a very important lesson to learn.
People learn more from what you do than they will ever learn from what you say! “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” James 1:22. People need to see us living the Word. If we want to lead people to Christ, we have to live what we preach. If we are saying one thing but doing another, we are doing serious damage not only to our testimony but also to the cause of Christ! My grandparents taught me more by their example than by any words they ever spoke. If you want to reach people, be the gospel. Live it out in front of them!
Another lesson that I learned from my grandparents was to learn to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Whether we were shelling peas on their front porch or just sipping sweet tea to the sound of the old box fan, I learned to find pleasure in the simple things. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” James 1:17. If you look hard enough, there is always something to be thankful for. If you look hard enough, there is always someone worse off than you.
I could go on and on about the things I learned from the times spent with my grandparents, both from their good example and also from things I wanted to do differently from the way they did them. Yet sitting here with the cool breeze of an old box fan blowing on my face, I find that I am most grateful for the love and comfort I found at their house. They had no idea how desperately I needed the sanctuary I found at their house, and I’ll always be grateful for the time spent there. Sometimes you just need a safe place to go, a place where your soul and spirit can be refreshed.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” Psalm 23:1-3a. My grandparents are gone now but thankfully, I have found a new safe place, a new sanctuary. My heavenly Father is my safe place, my sanctuary. In His arms, I have found the safe place my soul longs for. He is my strength and my security. Everything I need, I have found in Him. My friend, I hope that you can say the same. There is no place as lovely as in the arms of the Father. There is no place as soothing as His arms.
Dear heart, I hope that you too have fond memories of some place or some person that makes you smile. I hope that you too have some “old box fan” memories that remind you that life is a gift meant to be enjoyed. Most of all, I hope that you have found in Him all that your heart longs for. He loves you so much! He wants to be your everything; He wants to be your safe place. He wants to make some great memories with you, my friend. Pull up a chair, turn on the box fan, and chat a while with Him today. I promise it will be the most beautiful, the most peaceful part of your day.
I hope you enjoyed meandering down memory lane with me today as I found myself in somewhat of a pensive mood. I hope that it has triggered some long-forgotten memories for you that have made you smile. It is my prayer that God has somehow spoken to your heart and encouraged you in some way as you journeyed with me. Thank you for traveling through some old memories with me, my dear friend. May you be blessed, and may you make some beautiful memories of your own today. Make some memories worth remembering, my friend!
The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:22
Katrina Douglas
