Will she remember it?

I do a lot of things with Elisabeth. We go to zoos, parks, museums and libraries on a regular basis, and we have a fantastic time. Yet on more than one occasion, I have had friends ask me, "Will she remember any of this?"

I think it is likely that she won't have any distinct memories of these years when she is older (I don't have many distinct memories of my preschool years), and yet I am convinced that these years will define the rest of her life. The fact that she may not remember the particulars later on doesn't stop me from living each day to the fullest with her; in fact, knowing that these years are so defining in her social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive development makes me want to do them all the more. That she may not remember these days does not mean they are unimportant.

In this respect of memory, I think there is a real parallel between early childhood and life, and life and eternity. Though we remember very little from our preschool years, our development during this time has a massive impact on the way we experience the rest of life. In much the same way, from eternity the years of our life will appear as but a whisper - but they will define the degree of our joy to all eternity. We live fully now, knowing that what we do matters even if we won't remember it when we see Christ face to face. That glorious truth makes each day full and reminds me that it is still as nothing compared to what will be.