Knickknack or Ebenezer?

a 2 z meme with Patty Wysong at Patterings.
Welcome to this week's a 2 z
and the letter K.
If you're joining in the meme, be sure to link up with us at the end of this post. Find more info about the a 2 z meme here.

On one of my parent's bi-annual treks to visit us, they commented on the rocks I have scattered around the inside my house. It's a family thing that I came by through my dad's mother, whose window sills were full of interesting rocks, and it's something I share with at least one of my sisters. I don't know if my grandmother had stories to go with her rocks, but I do.

There's more to the knickknacks in my house than just being cute little things to collect dust, or even just interesting rocks.They're Ebenezers.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” ~1 Samuel 7:12 NAS

My window sill and desk shelf hold a strange variety of things, and most of them have special significance to me. They remind me of things in my life that I want, and need, to remember. Special things God has done for me. Not only do I need the physical reminder, but they're object lessons for my family.
Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, “What do these stones mean to you?” then you shall say to them, “Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord...” So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever. (Joshua 4:6-7, NAS)

Every now and then one of the kids will ask about a knickknack I have and it's a perfect opportunity for me to tell them about what it reminds me of. They hear the story of what God has done in my life, and that makes it more than a cute moose sitting on my shelf.

When my parents sold their home 10 years ago, my older sister and I were envious of our younger sister who brought home a silly little frog that sat on our mom's shelf for years. It surprised Mom that we all loved that frog, but it was such a good lesson for me, one I remember every time I go to my younger sister's home and see the frog on her kitchen window sill. It's something we can capitalize on as mothers.

Do you have a shadow box or shelf? How about just a window sill you can use? Turn it into a special Ebenezer shelf and work together, as a family, to fill it with physical reminders of what God has done for you. Not only will the children love it, but it's something they'll remember long after they've grown and left the house. Even if they don't carry the knick-knack with them to their own homes, they will carry the story with them.

Don't collect just knickknacks, collect Ebenezers.


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8 comments:

  1. LOVE this post - and you know I adore the whole Ebenezer thing. One of my favorite things we've talked about. EVER.

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    1. Really?! Cool. =] They've helped me so much!!

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  2. OH Patty! This brought tears to my eyes. I have never heard of doing this before and yet, I have so many 'stones' now I'm calling them Ebenezers.
    Diana

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    1. Oh neat!! So happy to hear this, Diana! My Ebenezers remind me of so many things and recognizing them for what they are makes them even more effective. =]

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  3. I most definitely have Ebenezers...but never thought of them as such! I'm going to have to reposition them. And though my kids are grown & out of the house...they DO return and periodically "swipe" things to take home with them (sometimes one of my Ebenezers!) LoL! But at least I know it made an impression on them. Good, good post, Patty!

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    1. LoL. My older sister and I look for the special froggie when we visit my younger sister's. She knows that can't be thrown out, it has to be passed on...but I don't know that she'll part with it. The funny thing? Mom said it was just a 'plant pick' she thought was cute and set on the shelf. It's also why I have a couple frogs on top of my desk--a reminder of Mom and all the times I remember her drinking her morning coffee while reading her Bible. =]

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  4. Loved this post, Patty! Thanks for sharing and challenging me.

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  5. I am going to have to studiously review my collection of knicknacks! My mom avoided them like the plague, so I have amassed more than my share. Now I have a wonderful way to purge the excess while retaining the important! Cool post, Patty!

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