DO YOU REMEMBER?

Written by Luz Leigh 30 November 2007

      A few years ago there was a secular recording group who had a song about “do you remember?” in which they recalled various aspects of our lives. At one point in the song, the “do you remember” came out as “dewey ‘member”. 

      Let’s take a walk down memory lane (again). Some of you young folks may have not a clue about what I am typing, but hang in there. With luck, you will be my age and enjoy reck-o-lecting.

      Do you remember your first grade teacher? Your first Sunday school teacher? Your first pastor?

      Stop! I must confess….I remember. My first grade teacher was a Mrs. Masdon and I thought she was pretty. First Sunday school teacher was my neighbor Mrs. West (who happened to be a Methodist, but she taught in our Baptist church. She had a cigar box full of crayons we could color with after we listened to the Bible story.) The first pastor I remember was a Bro. Lee who had children my age. That man had an arm a mile long with an equally long finger attached. Well, at least it seemed that way to me the day he stopped his sermon, pointed to his two children and me as we were seated on the front row and having a great time whispering to each other. His words were words of doom: “You kids, stop that talking.” That was the last time I was allowed to sit with the preacher’s kids and I think it was the last time I ever sat in a worship service on the front row. 

      Do you remember first boyfriend/girlfriend? Your first kiss? Your first date? Wouldn’t you know it? My church was a part of these firsts. First boyfriend was named James (sure wish I could remember his last name…..he may be famous by now). He was from Tyler, TX, rose capital of the world. First kiss was with the son of a deacon; we were seated on the front steps of the little frame church we attended. First date was not associated with my church, but the boy was the grandson of a preacher and later became a Baptist preacher. And would you believe he is now a pastor in….where else? Tyler, TX.

      Do you remember when you accepted Jesus as your Savior? When you were baptized? Your first church camp? I was eight years old when I felt the Holy Spirit working in my heart. I told my pastor (not the one with the long arm) that I wanted to give my heart to Jesus. Never regretted that action. I was baptized a week later in a neighboring church’s baptistery because we did not have one at out little church. The first church camp I attended was the same year I had my first kiss….that was an exciting year. We slept in un-air conditioned dormitories on the most uncomfortable bunk beds. We went to worship three times a day and were allowed to swim once each afternoon….girls swam from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Boys swam an hour later. No way could there be mixed swimming. I remember when we were asked to pray for someone who did not know the Lord, I prayed for my grandfather whom I did not believe to be a Christian.

      Today we will stop the memory lane review. More at a later time.