Over the past few weeks, I’ve thrown out, donated, and given away a small truckload of things no longer needed in my home. But there was one thing I just couldn’t throw out—not yet, anyway.

Like many others, I found myself with more time at home than usual the past couple months. I decided to tackle the basement—a job I hadn’t done in over five years. (Yes, that was as much fun as it sounds!) 🙂

Over the course of a couple weeks, I sorted, cleaned, and organized everything in our full basement. It’s absolutely amazing what a family of four can collect in just a few years! Thankfully there is still a thrift store accepting donations in our little town, and I filled my car to bursting with toys, clothes, bedding, pictures, and books to give away.

I also threw away a lot of stuff. Anyone else put broken things in their basement with the thought, We’ll get that fixed one day? Lol!

As ruthless as I was in The Great Basement Clean-up of 2020, there was one item I kept. And not because it’s small and convenient to store. It’s one of the larger things in storage in my basement.

I kept it because it’s a reminder of God’s great faithfulness to me.

It’s the For Sale sign from my daycare, the one I hung on my fence back in September 2019. If you follow my Facebook page, you might remember it.

Just in case you weren’t here when I sold the daycare, here’s a quick wrap-up. I’d felt the call of God to sell my daycare and step more fully into my writing ministry, and had been praying to that end for over a year. After a season of prayer and seeking godly counsel, I hung this sign on the fence. I was required to inform the state licensing authority of my decision, and their response was discouraging, to say the least.

In short, they told me, “Daycares don’t sell in your area, be prepared to wait a long time, and don’t be surprised if you can’t sell it and have to close instead.”

I hung up the phone a bit dazed. But then I realized I’d been given a great gift, for if the daycare sold now, I’d have absolutely no doubt that it was the hand of God.

A week after I hung the sign, a buyer approached me, and six weeks after that, the daycare had a new owner. It was simply amazing. God’s confirmation on His call to me couldn’t have been more clear if He’d written it on the wall.

So I keep the sign. I know there may be days ahead when I might doubt that call, or I’ll get discouraged, or things won’t go according to plan. If that happens, I can unroll the 4 X 8-foot sign and remember how God worked miraculous circumstances for me to be where I am today.

I also want to remember how God used the 4 1/2 years at the daycare to help me get back on my feet financially as a newly-single mom. I don’t want to forget all the things I learned there and the experiences I had. One day I’ll probably throw the huge vinyl sign away, but for now it stays, a reminder of God’s calling to write the words He’s put on my heart.

In Scripture, we see God often commanded His people to keep remembrances of the great things He’d done for them. Sometimes these remembrances were physical things the Israelites could see and touch; others were feasts and celebrations to help them remember the deliverance of the Lord.

Have you ever experienced a great spiritual victory or had a physical need met? How did you feel?

Chances are you were on top of the world. Your faith and courage were strong, and your spirit soared like an eagle in the clouds.

But then time passed. And a little more time. Life returned to normal, and soon the deliverance or provision of the Lord slipped from your mind.

That’s why it’s so important to have physical remembrances of what God has done for us. My favorite way to remind myself of what God has done for me is to keep a praise and prayer journal. When I’m going through a rough time, there’s no better way to encourage myself in the Lord than reading back through how He’s helped me in the past.

Looking back with gratitude helps me look forward with trust.

The same God Who provided in the past will provide in the future.

There are many ways to keep a record of what God has done for you. I’ve seen families have an answers-to-prayer wall or jar where they write down what God has done for them. I’ve already mentioned a journal. If you prefer digital, you can keep notes on your phone or computer. It doesn’t matter how you remember, just that you find a way to remember.

If you don’t already have a way to record what God has done for you, I challenge you this week to set up some kind of a system—whether a journal, a thankful jar, or a praise wall in your home. God has done so much for us! Let’s write these things on our hearts and in our homes so we will always remember them.

“And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder…That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan…and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.” (Joshua 4:5-7)

Looking for a devotional book to compliment your quiet time with God? Tales from Toddlers is a 30-day-devotional book full of true stories taken from my days as a daycare mama. Each chapter includes a fun story, practical applications, Bible study questions, and space to journal. If you choose to purchase, THANK YOU! Your support helps keep this ministry going, and my blog ad-free. You can find ordering information HERE. I appreciate you!