A Thanksgiving Memorial

“In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea[b]when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” Joshua 4:21-24

In our history readings recently, both Middle School and Elementary School have covered the story of Joshua leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. In that story, Joshua directed the people to take twelve stones from the river and to make a permanent, mobile memorial of God's provision, power and faithfulness to them during their years in the wilderness. 

On the day before Thanksgiving break began, the whole school gathered during lunchtime in the parking circle. Each person brought a stone, collected from the beautiful wooded land God has provided for us. We took it in turns to share one thing God has done for us that we're thankful for, and then piled up our stones as a memorial. 

Many of the kids and staff expressed thankfulness for the community God has given us, and how He's using it to shape our hearts and help us grow up into Him. Of course, one person thanked God that UT's football team beat OU this fall. Gotta love the way kids can keep it real!