Remembering God

Years ago I was participating in a workshop to prepare to teach children in church. The trainer challenged us with this assignment: Describe one of your earliest memories of God.

I grew up in the home of a pastor and had worked in many churches and ministry settings, and yet this question required some careful reflection on my part. I can’t say that my earliest memory of God occurred in church. In fact, I think my earliest experience of God was beyond words or maybe before I had religious language at all. I felt the presence of something mysterious and yet intimate in the touch of a gentle breeze kissing my cheek as I watched the shadows of my bedroom curtains dance across the wall near the open window of my toddler bedroom.

Remembering our early encounters with the Divine prepares us to receive children with respect and care, trusting that they too already have a relationship with God. 

Our own stories help us take seriously our responsibility to teach our children the stories and language of our faith that will serve them for a lifetime.

Perhaps most importantly, to recall our earliest memories of God awakens us to the loving presence of God that creates, redeems and sustains us our whole lives.

In Lacy Finn Borgo’s book Faith Like a Child she states, “It is characteristic of God’s generous way to lavish children with his presence. The Spirit has been reaching for you since your beginning. You were born into the way of generosity.” (p.41)

If you would like to explore more about how children nudge us to embrace our own relationship with God, join us in October for our zoom book discussion.

With Wonder,

Cynthia