Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

Is Thanksgiving about giving thanks for what we have? “We’re blessed,” we say, often remarking on our surroundings and provisions. But this year, maybe we see other reasons to be thankful because of what is lacking. We really do know many who have lost everything – and that is not hyperbole. What do these people have to be grateful for? Better question – how are they able to seem happy after such destruction?

We were discussing gratitude at our home recently when my husband shared a quote and video from an interview with Michael J. Fox, the famous actor from the 1980s and 90s, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 30+ years. Fox says:  “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable. If you find something to be grateful for, then you find something to look forward to, and you can carry on.” A link between gratitude and optimism. 

Later in the week, my children and I were studying a unit on giving thanks, comparing “happiness” and “gratitude.” How are they similar? How are they different? How are they linked? The illustration was vivid – observe most small children when opening gifts. You will likely see a pursuit of happiness chasing more happiness as they toss aside the unwrapped gift for what is still hiding beneath the tree. “Is that all? Is there another gift? Who is that other gift for over in the corner?” Gratitude may not be genuinely present beyond a parent reminding them to “say thank you.” And so, the child seems more spoiled and discontent than happy. Our lesson taught us that hunting for happiness does not successfully lead to gratitude. 

On the other hand, many of us can think of a cheerful soul who leads their life with gratitude. Each day begins with seeing good gifts from above hidden in the middle of a tragedy or turbulence. The grateful person is the happy person. Or at least they are joyful since we know that happiness is based on circumstances, and joy is more profound.

But what about when you don’t feel like giving thanks? Or do you not like your present situation or the future on the horizon for an indefinite period? What then?

Consider what radio host and ministry founder Joni Eareckson Tada says about gratitude: “God isn’t asking you to be thankful. He’s asking you to give thanks. There’s a big difference. One response involves emotions, the other your choices, your decisions about a situation, your intent, your step of faith.” If you are unfamiliar with her, I encourage you to learn more about her story and the life-altering accident that led to a life of suffering and gratitude. It really puts this quote into perspective.

The idea that we are to give thanks to God whether or not we feel thankful is countercultural to us today. But I pray our friends in the mountains lead the way in giving thanks, letting gratitude be a lens that leads toward optimism, and blazing a path to something more than happiness. 

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Like many parents of young children, I took my youngest two children and a neighbor to the Cabarrus Arena’s Touch a Truck event last weekend. In addition to touching the trucks and other vehicles, there were many opportunities to express gratitude – even though that was not our plan for attending. There were also a lot of opportunities to receive candy or marketing swag – stress balls, pencils, frisbees, and the like. Rather than telling my kids to say “thank you,” I try to lead with, “What do we say to someone who gives us something?” We also tried to thank each civic member for their contribution – often unseen or considered – to our daily lives. Thankfully, by now, more often than not, they remember to do so without much prompting, but like most humans, in a sea of candy and freebies, it is easy to walk with a sense of entitlement, leaving the gratitude behind. 

It seems we need a reminder to be grateful in our own country these days. Last year, I discussed the space between the skeletons and the trees – Thanksgiving gets crowded out. We are a people with a flair for the sensational. Both Halloween and Christmas fulfill that for many. Do we know what to do with a much quieter holiday with less fanfare? Is it a necessary holiday anyway?

Have we forgotten that the days of our nation’s conception were moments of gratitude – surviving fatal winters, accepting help and advice from native Americans, and being in a place that promised many freedoms? We have. But we are not alone. Did you know that it was not until 1863 – the middle of the Civil War – that a lady named Sara Josepha Hale implored the current president to establish a nationally recognized day of Thanksgiving on the same day for all states? Guess which president conceded to her requests for a day of common unity built on gratitude and gathering – President Lincoln. Of course, this was amid our nation’s saddest times – with brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor. Lincoln likely was already searching for something to repair the breach, to be a balm. Mrs. Hale’s letter led him to the proclamation of a day where shared experiences of gratitude and acknowledging a reliance upon an Almighty Power was an excellent place to start. He was right.

Would President Lincoln remind us of the same need for this moment of shared gratitude and gathering this Thanksgiving? We need it more today than most of us realize or would concede to. Already, I see Christians and non-Christians alike spewing hate and disgust at those across the aisle, or more closely – down the street – because of differently expressing their right and privilege to vote. I have even read resolutions not to share Thanksgiving with those of differing opinions.

How does something like gratitude help us? In the grand design of life and history, it brings us all to an understanding of who we are, or more importantly, who we are not. It recognizes we are all vulnerable and dependent on someone, though many do not yet know Who that is. For the Christian, the gratitude goes outward and upward. All we have is a gift from above. Even all the things we have that we do not want are gifts if they bring us to a place of humility, contentment, and recognition that we can live through any season or election result that comes our way. That’s worth giving thanks for.

Ashlie Miller and her family enjoy friendsgiving and Thanksgiving meals (and day-after sandwiches!) in Concord, Salisbury, and NC beaches. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

At the expense of offending lovers of spring, summer, and winter, I submit the following: 

Of all the seasons in the South (at least in NC), it seems that most of my friends are the most vocal about their love for autumn. Perhaps it is because the agonizing heat finally subsides – or at least hints at the prospects. Maybe it is because avenues of trees create a cozy canopy with flecks of gold or deep reds carpeting the walkway. “It feels like walking through a favorite movie,” I read someone post. Of course, the accessories of loose sweaters, favorite jeans, flannels, maybe a book, and a warm cup of tea or coffee add to the aesthetic. We cannot forget the long bucket list of seasonal must-dos – apple orchards, pumpkin farms, corn mazes, fall festivals, hikes, and road trips. 

Many of us must remember another essential part of fall – preparation for rest. We know the squirrels, chipmunks, and less adorable creatures are preparing for rest. However, it is not uncommon to hear a child pipe up with the misconception of plants dying as they lose their leaves. I confess I have fallen into the accidental slip of the tongue when speaking of plants “dying” in the fall. Of course, they are not dying but merely preparing for rest. 

To add to the confusion, the autumn landscape serves as an unfortunate backdrop to things that truly do resemble death – ginormous skeletons, ghosts, monsters, and cobwebs (both real and purchased for decor). I will be thankful when the landscape no longer has to compete with the symbols of the macabre or occult and can gleam more brilliantly as the jewel-toned shades of scarlet, amber, and topaz. 

As we dust away or throw out those cobwebs, take a moment to reflect on preparing for a season of rest. What a novel idea lost in our busy Western culture – a desire many crave but have buried deep within their souls while attempting to be more productive. In all except the extreme climates, autumn is a rule of nature – a time for shorter days, harvest, migration, and early days of hibernation. We would be wise to take note of this preparation amongst the more humble species. 

Consider the many health benefits that arise from this season. Though gaining an hour of sleep this weekend will throw many into havoc, the extra sleep is helpful to most of us. I love to get into “comfy clothes,” as we call them, at home and read books or play board games after an early supper. I am more likely to go for longer walks or attempt a game of pickleball with my sons. Perhaps I will nosh on one of the many apples from the orchard we visited or busy myself in the kitchen making chicken noodle soup from scratch to boost my immune system. I embrace a little more relaxation and feel my stresses melt away (or at least have a soothing outlet). I do not think it is only because I recharge best as an introvert that I feel at my best in this season. I believe it is part of the laws of nature. 

The long for rest is a gift from above. Rest is good. And for those who believe in Christ as Lord, there is a promise of lasting rest. It will be better than the coziest autumn and snuggliest of winter months. It will be a life-giving time of service, not just a respite from weariness. 

Ashlie Miller and her husband make time for restful moments with their family in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Recently, my family of 7 embarked on a vacation to visit a couple of different sailing vessels, which anyone will tell you is more of a trip than a vacation. We had not planned to create a seafaring-themed adventure, but homeschool studies of the Titanic and a desire to revisit a familiar museum made a trip to the Titanic Museum in Tennessee and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky a workable plan.

It wasn’t until looking into the review mirror of our trip home that I realized the unexpected juxtaposition of these two tours within the same week. Both were feats of design and engineering but contrasted vastly in intent and responses. 

We first visited The Titanic Museum. Although it was not a depressing tour, there were many elements of sadness. Upon entering the ship, we each received a ticket as a 2nd or 3rd class passenger who journeyed on that fateful voyage and a brief description of who they were. We took guesses based on information we gathered or surmised as to whether we would be among those who survived the tragedy or sank to a tragic demise.

Hosting 2,240 people, the size of the Titanic was astounding – much larger than the dimensions of Noah’s Ark, which housed a pair of each kind of known animal. This epitomized man’s skill, knowledge, and experience, promising new hope for those moving across the sea. Rumors abounded of the ship’s indestructibility. Although the museum only presents a half-boat, one can imagine the opulence and luxury in the 1st class decks and the more modest living quarters for the 3rd class passengers. One encounters the icy-cold waters and the steep incline of a sinking ship before the tour ends with passengers looking at the wall to see if they survived or drowned on that dreadful night. Then, you conveniently exit through the gift shop. 

The Ark Encounter is built so you can experience the full-scale size and engineering wonders, which house so many animals and accommodate Noah’s family for those many months on the boat. For although it rained 40 days and nights, they lived onboard for over a year. As you look at the information and life-size models, you become a believer that an ark like this could be built and maintained by God’s design. It is a remarkable museum for an impressive boat – nothing had ever existed like this before in human history. But it did not promise the luxury and opulence that the Titanic would one day hold. 

Did you know that the base ticket for a 3rd class passenger would exceed $1,000 in today’s money? That was a hefty fee for a typical Irish family coming out of the potato famine, looking for work being replaced in the industrial age, and longing for a new opportunity. It would have taken many years and lots of intentional savings to afford passage for one, much less a small family. Yet, many did, with hopes of something better. Life was hard, and many wanted and needed hope.

One exhibit aboard the Ark Encounter shows life before the flood and why Noah prophesied a flood – “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). But rather than a false promise for a chance at a new life, Noah ensured salvation from destruction – a rescue. It was an offer the people around Noah did not know nor believe they needed – salvation from themselves and wrath. It was a free passage – no strings attached. Yet they mocked, and all refused. Every Ark tourist knows this, so there is no wall of remembrance to see if a historical character survived. Instead, sightseers are challenged on how they will live this life – as one pointed toward the promise of eternal life or as one choosing their own will and path, leading to future destruction. 

We left our time on both ships with memories and deep reflections rather than sadness or hopelessness. You may never have a chance to take a cruise and wonder about your safety or even visit these museums. But we all have a choice to make regarding a great salvation that has been offered to us. Choose wisely, and don’t delay!

By Ashlie Miller

How do you make sense of the last 4+ years? Or let’s narrow it down to just 2024? Do you have more recent events in mind? Maybe you have been on edge with the political climate. Most of us are still very sensitive after friends and family have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. You may not even need to look further than your own address to find yourself asking God:  “What are You up to? Why are you allowing __________? Why are you not intervening in __________?”

The psalmist King David had many opportunities to ask such questions. We read lengthy psalms of his ponderings, but nestled within the book of Psalms is a concise psalm that beautifully reveals a man who is calm in extreme realities for which he does not have answers. 

Psalm 131

Verse 1

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

 my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

 too great and too marvelous for me.

As we look at things happening in our lives, it is tempting to expect answers to our questions about complicated things. It can be all-consuming. We can become anxious or hardened when we cannot comprehend or find access to answers. After all, at least we seem to get a story or explanation – even if it is misinformation – for almost everything. Google or social media seem to have at least molded our minds in that way. But David can live with the unreconciled mysteries. He knows fully well that wrestling with some questions could still leave him wanting or unable to grasp peace and understanding.

Verse 2

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

 like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

David is poised with a presence of peace. How? He has learned to fully trust God, even when no answers are available or accessible for an undisclosed reason. He chooses to trust God – that reveals strength. It is not a lethargic, uneducated, unrefined blind trust. It is a response built on experience and relationship. Like a weaned child who has matured to the point of self-soothing and patience in the presence of his mother, David rests in what he knows is true about God’s love, care, and nature through his relationship with Him. That is all he needs. 

O Israel, hope in the Lord

 from this time forth and forevermore.

This may seem like a haphazard add-on to a psalm to the modern reader, but it is more than that. The king set the tone for the kingdom. Israel often lived in a holding pattern – a place of waiting and little explanation. Here, as in other psalms, David encourages the people of Israel to wait patiently and expectantly in the Lord because He has repeatedly proved Himself. While we wrestle with life’s hard questions and the mysteries of God, can we apply the psalmist’s lessons on His sovereignty?

Ashlie Miller and her husband, Chad, raise their family in Concord, NC.

By Ashlie Miller

By now, you have heard of many creative ways to support Hurricane Helene victims in our state. Many artists have joined together to hold concerts or create an album to raise money for them. The devastation has inspired musicians and singers to write songs based on their sorrow and care for a place they call “home.” No doubt those who have or had a home in that tragically hit area have written the most touching songs. 

I think the song that has touched me most is from a video shared on social media of an anonymous man in the Asheville area dressed in a dingy t-shirt, sweatpants, and a pair of slides covering his feet. After a relief worker brings the residents immediate aid, one recipient regrets that he cannot offer something to express his gratitude. Then he remembers what he does have – a gift of song. Grabbing his fiddle, he breaks into melody – perhaps a mixture of lament and overwhelming gratitude.

Thanks to autotuning and big collaborations with well-known writers, almost anyone can write or play a good song. The music from the heart, often a hurt heart, is most meaningful. This is not a new thing. One can open 1-2 Samuel in the Bible and read selected chapters in the Psalms to see the stories that prompted the greatest songwriter (King David) to write some of the most celebrated and sung songs. As I read the Psalms, I often skip past the chapter’s introduction (or song) to get straight to the poetry, but there is so much life in the simple notations (if your Bible has them). I am amazed at how many psalms David wrote while escaping the hand of Saul or other enemies, trapped in a cave, or even struggling with his own sinfulness.

David often uses his personal stories of God’s goodness in tragedy to set a pattern of praise that others can follow to write songs of gratitude and praise. It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 where Paul says that because of God’s great love and comfort for us as believers in our afflictions, we are able to comfort others in any affliction – even messy, catastrophic ones.

We are already witnessing this in so much of our Appalachia family – stories (and songs) of grace and courage, sadness and woe, and hope and rebuilding. Many of them are still waiting to hear the music. 

Do you have a song birthed from a storm in your life? It may be time to share it with someone currently in a storm or just coming out of one (literally or figuratively). Help them to find their song through your encouragement, even if you survived a very different storm. 

Ashlie Miller and her family reside in Concord, NC but have many friends and family in western NC. Our prayers and support are for them now and down the road.

By Ashlie Miller

Do you have times when a theme or word pops up prevalently in your life? Hope has been that word for me recently. I first noticed it while helping my daughter work through an AWANA book (AWANA is a Bible study and memory program that has been around for a while.) “What is the difference between hope as we see it and hope as the Bible explains it?” Do you know the difference?

The same question came up about a week later while I was at a celebration of life service for a dear lady who had recently passed away. The minister there asked the same question about hope, and he too had the same answer my daughter read a week earlier – earthly hope is the sort of wishful thinking we all have. You may have seen or experienced it last week – “I hope my loved one is ok.” “I hope they can get cell service so I can hear from them soon.” “I hope someone can get fuel, water, and food to my loved one.” “I hope they will be able to rebuild their lives.”

My family and I have lived in a wishful kind of hope not fully realized as we waited for contact with my brother in Clyde, NC. We hoped he was well. We wished he could get power and water, reach the inaccessible main road, and reunite with his family, who had been visiting with family here in Rowan County before the hurricane hit. 

As humans, many of us are doing all we can to make those wishes and hopes come true. My brother-in-law’s moving company has been stationed at Walmart all week to shuttle collected hurricane relief supplies to the Concord Regional Airport for Operation Airdrop. I asked fellow volunteers I met if they had connections to Western North Carolina, and almost everyone did. I usually could tell the answer before their mouth replied as their eyes welled up with tears. “I came because I needed to feel I was helping them in some way” has been the common response. Some who have donated also do so for similar reasons. One lady I thanked for her donation shared that she had a loved one who had perished in the floods and family members who had to climb to the roof and even survive by holding onto a tree. Unable to be there to console and help in person, giving supplies is the closest thing many can do to provide a sense of hope and care. 

All this does so much to offer hope and to fulfill many wishes for relief. However, there is a much greater hope, which is a sure thing. As my daughter’s study book says, “The Bible tells us that to hope for something means that we WILL get it because God told us we would.” These “somethings” are beyond temporal material things that, as we have witnessed, can be washed away in a flash. We can have access by faith into grace (Romans 5:1-2) – a gift we all need to receive what we have not earned nor deserve. We can hope and receive righteousness – the only guarantee to an eternal life with God rather than an eternal separation (Galatians 5:5, Titus 1:2). 

I hope my brother’s family gets power and water soon. I hope my sister-in-law, niece, and nephew are able to get to him (if they haven’t by the time of this printing). I hope the community they are in can recover soon. I have no control and neither do they. But one thing we are sure of, our eternal hope in Jesus is secure. 

By Ashlie Miller

Two free weekends in a row in the fall are a rare treat for most families these days, and ours is no exception. As I mentioned last week, we love a good day trip at this time of year because it is usually not too hot to be in a car for a few hours. Last weekend, after reading an article in Our State magazine, we followed suggestions to partake of several apple treats at four different stops in Hendersonville. What a delight – apple fritters, apple cider donut ice-cream sandwiches, cold cider with ice cream topped by apple cookies, warm apple cider donuts! We can talk about our collective sugar crash later, but the experience of sampling several delectables and supporting local farmers was a win-win for us. 

Of course, we ended our time by picking apples as well, along with many, many other families. While each orchard had its unique personality, one thing was for sure – they were all bustling with people! Have you been apple-picking this season, or will you be picking out a perfect pumpkin later? What is it about these seasonal fruits and gourds that get us excited? There must be something to it. Agritourism has become a booming business here in North Carolina. Even trips to an AirBnB have options for local farms, vineyards, and orchards. I wonder if the old-timers ever dreamed that people would pay to come harvest their crops.

I remember growing up, we never talked about going to pick apples or pumpkins as a family event. I do not recall hearing many other families make such plans each fall. However, we highly anticipated Thanksgiving and suppers from the year’s growth. Nothing could beat canned veggies from a grandparent’s garden served up with love and care. We certainly have an affinity for harvests, don’t we? It may be the fruit of our labor, partaking delights made by those who cultivate the ground, or even the mass market treats made available only during a couple of months in the year. 

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a segment on a podcast related to gleaners—those who volunteer to help local farmers harvest their produce. It benefits the farmers, the local economy, and even the volunteers. People don’t mind getting their hands dirty after a fruitful season.

The Bible also speaks of harvests and gleaning. Special laws benefited the foreigners and the poor, allowing them to gather from the edges of the fields. Another passage encourages us not to grow weary in our well-doing because perseverance leads to reaping in the right season. We reap what we sow (that is not always a good thing). Sleeping in harvest is shameful. Most Sundays, my husband ends our church service as he sends out the congregation – “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” – Matthew 9:37-38. We hope to make meaningful connections with our neighbors and coworkers that lead to eternal transformations – eternal life. These are but a few of the lessons from agriculture.

As you look at orchards bursting with fruit beckoning you to pick, fields of corn (many designed for corn mazes), and acres sprawling across with perfect pumpkins, take time to reflect on the Lord of the harvest. Is God reminding you of a harvest that will come in due season, a lesson on caring for others from the bounty of your blessing, the importance of rightly sowing and working in the proper seasons, or urging you to action for the glory of His kingdom? Lessons are there. Let’s get to work! Winter and rest will be here soon enough. 

Ashlie Miller isn’t really sure what to do with all her apples. Have an easy recipe? Email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Fall is a time for road trips, at least for our family—day trips, really. Last weekend, we ventured up to Brevard to connect with our oldest son, who is interning in western NC. Brevard is a perfect town with an atmosphere we love. It’s also not far from some favorite hiking trails. 

You may also know the town of Brevard for the local legend – the white squirrel. 

Metal silhouettes of the town mascot sit atop the traffic posts, and across the corner from O.P. Taylor’s toy store is The White Squirrel Shoppe – dedicated almost fully to merchandise of this woodland creature. Alongside the white squirrels, you may also find souvenirs showcasing a Sasquatch. Spying Bigfoot and white squirrels is like a game of Where’s Waldo while window shopping.

I wondered how much of the white squirrel obsession was based on folklore and legend and how much represented something true and observable to the casual tourist. But, other than that, I didn’t give it much thought. The hairy big guy, however, I discounted completely. Say what you will – the grainy photos are less discernible than my firstborn’s ultrasound.

After some window shopping and a fantastic supper at Corky’s Dawg House, we looked on the map for a nearby park with a playground where we could talk with our son while the younger siblings released their energy before our long ride back home. As we approached the parking lot – “Wait, what was that?! Did you see it?” We all saw a white fur ball scampering across the grass. We rushed to exit our car and carefully approached this apparition that had vanished. 

We saw him scurry up a tree, chasing a gray-tailed foe or companion – who can tell? Then, we saw another, scratching away at mulch under a bench before dashing to the picnic tables to taunt another squirrel. At another turn, a third small, white creature darted about. What once felt like myth and legend had become observable reality as we were in the right place at the right time. What a memory to treasure!

Many treat God with the same suspicion I did with white squirrels or, more accurately, Bigfoot. Materialists want observable proof using measures they have established on evidence they regard as observable by those measures. They spend much of their lives trying to prove and argue what they deem cannot exist because the spiritual does not fit their prescribed boundaries.

Sadly, they miss the glory and beauty of experiencing something wonderful and life-changing – a relationship with God – because they cannot observe it with scientific measurements. No, it is not quite like believing in something like a Sasquatch or doubting the existence of a white squirrel. Analogies are generally imperfect, especially when you relate to something spiritual. However, atheists create a world of limits because they do not know the truth that the eyes of one’s heart are opened AFTER submitting to a relationship with Christ by faith…without having all the answers first. Those who trust in Christ know what it means to not understand fully but know sufficiently. 

There are many questions to ponder in life about what we see and more about what we cannot. If we are willing to receive them, there are also many answers to these ancient questions. I hope your autumn adventures give you time to slow down and consider both questions and answers.

By Ashlie Miller

Let me be honest. Last week, when I read reporter Elisabeth Strillacci’s Opinion piece from the Salisbury Post “Where were you?” I stopped and reread this paragraph: “I heard something heartbreaking this week. Apparently our younger generation does not know what 9/11 is.” Did you also stop to reread that?

How could that be? It just happened…wait, it wasn’t just a few years ago? No, it was a young generation ago. And besides, I know my teens and children know about it. We discuss it annually, as each age is able to process it on their own level. In fact, my high schoolers’ current unit study is on the U.S. military and events around that day of terror. 

But, Strillacci is right. This past Wednesday, a young lady whom I mentored and who is deeply affected by death and tragedies – she is old enough to remember the day but young enough to have grown up in a world of uncertainty, fear, and change – texted me. She sets aside time each year to reflect on that day in our nation’s history. She feels a sympathetic weight of the day as she listens to stories and testimonies of those who recall the tragedies in their lives from that day. 

She shared her thoughts with a peer of her own age and was met with casual indifference that it was just another day in history and many in other countries are continually experiencing tragedies. I imagine the response to her text is a common feeling today, not just among the young who can only vaguely recall the day or for young students for whom 9/11 is merely a couple paragraphs in a history textbook. Have we who lived that day, if only through our television sets or radios, let memories fade and slip into the past?

Sadly, it is not just another day in history. The residual effects continue to this day. We are all well acquainted with the reports of those who have died well since 2001 – from cancers, respiratory, and digestive issues, to name a few. Some reports say that the numbers are now higher than those who died upon initial impact. Staggering!

My young friend is sensitive enough to think about the entire fire station crew who lost every member and children (now adults with children) who grew up as orphans. Those families are still working through life with grief. 

It is up to us adults to recall and recount the past. Although we can see 9/11 pretty clearly in our rearview mirror, the current and coming generations cannot. 

It reminds me of the scriptures that speak of our duty to teach the coming generations so they will not forget – because it is possible. In Deuteronomy, Moses warns Israelites to keep their soul diligently and remember what they have seen lest they forget and depart. While at it, they should also make these things known to their children. Why? As evidenced in Judges 2, just one generation after Joshua, Moses’s successor, passes, a generation who does not know the Lord or what He had done for their ancestors arises. Yikes. Ancestry and religion were vital to their identity as a people. How could parents and grandparents forget to share things this important regularly? Maybe they assumed someone else would do it for them?

Forgetfulness is a companion to ingratitude. Ingratitude leads to pride and entitlement or – to put it plainly – sin.

By forgetting to recall huge, life-changing events like 9/11 and passing down stories, are we guilty of leading a generation towards ingratitude, entitlement, and pride that leads to great downfalls? By forgetting to share our faith and what God has done, are we leading to something far worse?

Take time to recount, recall, and share. Even if an event’s anniversary has passed, the lessons are always timely. 

Ashlie Miller and her husband Chad raise their family in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@me.com.