Treasure Box
When I was young, my mother gave each of the kids an orange box. (Not a box that was the color orange but a box that usually came with oranges in it, you know, the ones with handles on the sides?). This box was then labeled “Treasure Box”. The box was used to hold all of your important documents and personal items. For example, after each school year, our report cards would be stored in our Treasure Box. Other items in our treasure boxes would be our baptismal certificate when we were baptized, our pictures taking during the year and any other important award we had won.
I loved my treasure box. I probably put more stuff in there than I needed to. I think I had some old post cards in there from some trip I went on. I have pictures of when we went to universal studios and was scared by the Incredible Hulk that ran into the audience. I really should go through my treasure box and pull out the stuff that doesn’t really mean anything to me. Now that I think about it, there is probably a Japanese or Chinese newspaper in there that my Grandpa gave me. I don’t know why he gave it to me, I just remember that it had really funny writing on it. It doesn’t mean much to me except that my Grandpa gave it to me.
Over the years, my treasure box has multiplied. I now have three treasure boxes. When I was over at my Mom’s house the other night, my mom gave me some pictures of me when I was little. She asked me, “Do you still have a Treasure Box?” “Of course I do”, I replied. When I got home, I ran downstairs and plopped my pictures into my box. The box has now matured and grown into a nice tupperware box with a sealed top. My two other boxes are simple boxes with mission stuff from when I served an LDS mission in Cali Colombia and Quito Ecuador. Another box has stuff from when I attended BYU and Utah State. It is always hard to get in and clean it out because all sorts of memories come flooding back to my mind and I end up wasting hours just looking through old pictures.
I guess in the mormon church we talk about keeping a journal, but I think it is also nice to have a box full of your favorite memories and pictures. Maybe I should take out the stuff in my treasure box every once in a while and show it to my kids. Maybe they will learn something from it. Maybe I’ll do it in a Family Home Evening.
My kids all have treasure boxes now. I let them pick out a favorite craft they did in school and the same things that you have. I really dont know where my treasure box is. I have some things out of it……but alot is missing. hmmmm. Thanks for reminding me to look for it.
I am terrible about saving things. I also have a treasure box…boxes. It seems like if I save some item that it saves that memory somehow. After the flood in the basement, I have been forced to put things away and to throw things away. My daughters are great at getting rid of things they don’t need or use any more. I just have the hardest time doing that. The other day I threw away the little white outfit that we Blessed and Named Clint in. I gave away the Blessing dress of Analee and her cute little pink poka-dotted dress and coat that she looked so cute in. I gave away Rachael little dress and a half-dozen shoes and knitted slippers. I gave away a white fur coat that Gordon gave me one Christmas. I loved to wear it. I felt so beautiful. I still have another closet that hold my mothers formal and my formal from High School. I treasure the item because it brings back such wonderful memories. Sometimes I try to tell my kids or grandkits about the special times in my life…but they really don’t want to hear. I’m afraid that I will soon be lost from their memories. I feel my life slipping away quickly and I’d just like to have remembrance that I lived and loved and worked and helped on this earth. One of the great things about the Mormon religion is the belief that this is not the end. We believe that we move to another existance where our same spirit will continue to exist. I know my parents and grandparents are really still alive and are working and learning in this Spirit World. And the most important knowledge is that my body and spirit will reunite again because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and His atonement. I love that belief and have faith that it is true. So, I guess I really don’t have to SAVE things. I will always have those wonderful memories and will always be a part of my family and share my thoughts and life with them.