A Cup Full of Memories ~ Kelly Gray

James 4:14 “whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even

a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

This morning, I went to pull a cup down for my morning coffee and was looking through the

dozens of cups I have (three shelves to be exact) and that doesn’t include the collection of

“Rae Dunn” that I have sitting throughout my kitchen. I’ve cleaned them out many times

through 39 years of marriage. Somehow they still accumulate over and over again. This

morning I was thinking of memories we have made with each one of those cups. One was a

cup a pastor’s wife in Arizona gave me while I was eyeing it at Starbucks. She surprised me

and bought it for me. That cup helps me pray for her when I pull it down to make coffee.

There’s a cup from a dear friend who no longer calls me - I pray for her. There’s a mushroom

cup a college girl gave me. Even though I already had two, I couldn’t get rid of it. I knew she

sacrificed to buy it for me. There’s a Superman coffee cup from a dear saint who went on to

Heaven. His wife passed it along to us for my husband. I pray for her as she tries to navigate

life without her precious husband. There’s a coffee cup I got from Mackinac Island - never in

my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be able to go - when we ended up at a servant

retreat two years ago with some dear friends. I thank the Lord for them when I see that cup,

and it reminds me how God has blessed us with so many friends throughout the years at just

the time we needed them. Don’t take memories for granted. Make memories today. Make

memories with your husband, your kids, your family, your friends. The older you get, you begin

to realize you’re not able to make those types of memories anymore, and the blessings God

has allowed come flooding back.

I have bits and pieces of memories from childhood that seem to come back the older I get -

playing under a house or playing in a trashcan filled with water because we had no swimming

pool - playing hide and seek and remembering Mom saying “you better head home when the

front porch light comes on”. I have high school memories of ball trips, soul-winning marathons,

and break-ups with boyfriends I would like to forget about. Then college classes and traveling

and singing - chapel sermons I won’t forget that touched my life and made a difference.

Memories of church, camp, vacations, and bike rides, The early days of marriage when I

looked for chance just to go get something to eat at McDonald’s. The first time I found out I

was carrying a child, and then raising little ones. Memories with the kids - racing them,

vacations, trips to the park, one by one our children getting married, RG going to Heaven, and

now being empty nesters and making our own new memories together - just like we started -

the two of us.

They’re memories that just flood back at different moments. Some people are minimalists and

don’t buy little trinkets to remind them of memories or trips they’ve made, but I have always

tried to pick something up. Sometimes it’s more than one thing!!! Today is a memory from a

coffee cup from The Pioneer Woman. I remember how excited I was to be there and how I

could not believe my husband agreed to stop. We were on our way to a camp in Kansas, 3 or 4

years ago, and as I like to do, I was navigating our trip to see where we could possibly squeeze

in something exciting while driving through Oklahoma. I had always wanted to go to The

Pioneer Woman’s little shop and her restaurant, and it was 45 minutes out of our way. My

amazing husband agreed to stop and give me a couple of hours to enjoy these cute little shops

and restaurants in Pawhuska, OK - out in the middle of nowhere. This cup reminds me of that

memory and an amazing husband who always wants to make sure I’m happy and get to do

what I want to. It also reminds me of a picture I have of my husband, RG, and I. RG thought the

red truck in front of the restaurant was so cool! He loved looking at old vehicles, so he had to

get a picture taken - this is a memory I will cherish!

I don’t have his little face to look at anymore, but I have so many cherished memories I made

with him.

Memories of our God who has been so very faithful to me all these years. His love and

gratitude of sacrifice shown to me he has shown before I was born.

Just Make memories! (“That appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”)

When you pick up one of those memories just pray, reflect and thank the Lord for his goodness

and nconditional love.

It’s not just a cup, its full of memories that God has spoiled us with. So make memories and

buy the Cup!!!!