25 Years of Memories

Just recently I created a Facebook account. I was told it was Myspace for grown-ups and I have to say I agree. It turns out this was probably one of the best things I could have done at this time in my life. In the last two weeks I have found old friends and met new friends that normal circumstances would not have created. It has been awesome to talk to friends from almost 25 years ago.

Sometimes you look back at your childhood and it almost seems like a distant dream. Like it might not ever have happened. After contacting and being contacted by so many old fiends you start to think back on your past and actually work at it by getting out school annuals or old pictures by reading notes from friends and trying to remember a certain comment and why it was made. For example when I lived in Arkansas my nickname was "Teddy". This is another long story for a later time but back then that was my name. Even my teachers had me on the roll as Teddy. Since I moved away after my junior year I have not once been called Teddy. How weird is that? For four years you're Teddy Lewis and a week later you're Mark Lewis again?
I thought about telling my new classmates in Alabama my nickname but then they would ask why? Honestly I was not up to telling each and every one of them the whole story. Especially after being the new kid on campus.

Ironically at the same time I started my Facebook I was also in the process of looking through my families old pictures for a presentation I was creating for my parents 50th Anniversary party. This process also made me work to think back to my childhood and all the experiences that came with it. Some were still fresh in my mind just like some high school memories and some I had to really work hard to remember.

Some of you might be thinking where is Mark "Teddy" going with this? God has put each of us where we are for a reason. Sometimes getting there does make since or it might seem unfair what we had to go through to get there but the fact is he has a plain. God knew I needed to be thinking about the past whether back in high school or growing up with my family. He knew that this would help build me up and make my hope and faith stronger. He knew it would bring me joy, laughter and some sadness.

For those of you who do not know my wife Cindy is an ovarian cancer survivor and is currently going through chemo treatments for another tumor that was recently removed. I'm not telling this for pity but to let you know how God has worked in my life. God has put each of you in my life at this time because he knew I needed you. NO PRESSURE..... God has always seen my family through the toughest times. Sometimes he uses perfect strangers and in this case past friendships to motivate each of us to persevere and carry on with our journey of life. He uses others that surround us to help keep us focused and maintain the hope of another day. Believe me when I say hope is very powerful. Hope is what increases our faith.

To all my family, friends and newly found friends I want to say thank you. Remember we all can affect those we come in contact with each and every day. We can all change the world with just one kind word, one memory, one friendship or one relationship at a time.

In Christ
Mark