More Memories in Holland

Many of us move home several times during our lives. This house in which I am staying has been home to my mother’s side of the family since the 1930’s. Although she spent many years in England, this is where she has returned and there is a good network of friends and family here. The house has many memories, and I share many of them. Her brothers and sister, and their families often visited, and I recall vividly her parents when they were alive. Today a younger generation of the family continues to visit and support, which is truly wonderful.

 

My mother, Alie, looks back with much happiness in remembering the love of family members who are no longer with us. I am sure that we all have precious memories, and many joyful things which carry us along through life. In many cases their faith may well have influenced us for good, as is the case here. We in turn should remember that we inevitably influence all those whom we come into contact with.

 

There have been good and bad times to live through for us all, and Covid-19 has been a wretched time for most of us, and it remains a serious threat. Yesterday in England there was the shared clap of thankfulness for those who have died caring for others. We are so thankful for heroes in the medical profession. What are our values in difficult times?

I will be going to the supermarket shortly. It is five minutes’ walk away, just over the canal bridge. I have to walk past a memorial to people who were shot there by the Nazis in the second world war. Mum was living here then, hiding in the house as a young girl; she was shocked. It may be a long time ago, but it is not that far back into history. The memorial pays tribute to those who died resisting evil, and inscribed on the monument, in Dutch, are the words “These three abide - faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love”: words which speak of our Christian values, to treasure in times of personal or national difficulty, values which are truly, as we say over here, Christelijk.