Little Moments Form Big Memories

His five foot, ten inches outlined by the first rays of morning sunshine, lingered by the kitchen counter. He held a sharpie and was scratching away at an otherwise discarded piece of paper. He liked it best that way, liked to take the casualness of little moments and form big memories. His favorite were the used pieces of paper, awaiting the scrap bin, seeming to beg him for a sketch, a few jotted words, or a sweet love note. He didn’t know I was watching; he couldn’t have been aware of my strange obsession with what he wrote. He placed the sharpie across the page, reached for his bag and slipped into the early morning dawn. A few minutes later, I heard the quiet purr as the white Hyundai Sante Fe came to life and headed down the driveway.

I always waited an appropriate length of time, made sure each family member got a chance to read his scrawls, study the measured handwriting, and receive his love. When they were through, however, I would come to claim it, ready to tuck it into my growing pile of notes from dad. I think I had a strange suspicion that some day those notes would serve me well.

I was right. He went to live with Jesus five months ago. His cancer journey shocked us all. He’s gone now, but his legacy lives on in those little notes. Each little moment and his extra effort to engage, to relate his thoughts and feelings, will continue to impact me in the form of big memories. It’s funny how often we carelessly forget that simple moments can become powerful catalysts for change.

Now it’s my turn, and sometimes before I head out for the day, my husband gets a little scrawled note. Oftentimes it’s on a used envelope or torn piece of paper, often it’s jotted quickly, finished with a flourish, but it is always an expression of love. My own little way to leave my legacy on him. I hope to remember, as my dad did, that simple moments have the capacity to build upon each other with purpose. Purposefully put, make each moment count, and remember that the little moments form the biggest memories.

Practical Application

Sometimes being purposeful is daunting, but I’ve included a few links with tips and tricks for creative letter writing here: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/relationships-love/a28541131/cute-love-notes/https://www.joincake.com/blog/letter-of-encouragement/
Trust me, if I can do it, you can too. Check out more about me at: https://purposefullyput.com/.