The man showed me the picture of Earth he had carried for decades. I had seen the picture in history books and online. But this was his picture. He had been part of the space mission that first provided this image. After its success, this was a keepsake given to crew members and others involved. So, this wasn't just a picture of a historical event. This was his cherished reminder of what that day was to him. And with the picture came the stories.
Personally, that's my favorite illustration of Joshua's instruction to the people. Twelve men were to carry one stone each from the center of the Jordan River where the people would cross into the promised land. These stones weren't a functioning part of getting the people over. Instead, "in time to come," children were going to ask about them.
None of the ancients probably carried pictures in their pockets. But they would have these stones and they would have the stories that went with them. The stones would be a reminder of their great experience with God.
A saint once confusedly asked me about this crossing. "I thought the Israelites crossed the Red Sea," they said. Yes, there are sure echoes of that crossing in this story, but this was a new generation. Later, future generations would know of God's power in history when they saw and heard about these stones. They would be able to look for their own experiences as well.
The sharing we're reflecting on today comes with an assumption: You've experienced God's grace. Maybe it was as miraculous as crossing on dry ground through a river. Or maybe it was a simple moment of peace. Whatever the experience, it is yours. But in time to come, that story is going to be a blessing for someone else to hear.
Stay blessed...john | 
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