I am not very good at memorizing scripture. Even if I manage to hold it in my head for a couple of months or a couple of weeks, I will eventually forget it. I do not have a great memory and it really shows when it comes to memorizing scriptures or really any other long piece of text.

There does seem to be one exception to this rule.

John 3:16 (KJV)

I memorized John 3:16 when I was eight or nine years old. I was attending VBS at a small Baptist church in the town where I grew up. (I believe it was Love Street Baptist but I was a VBS addict as a kid and there where a lot of Baptist churches where I grew up so I could be wrong.) They challenged all the kids to memorize John 3:16 by the end of the week and everyone who did would get a package of grape Bubble Yum. I wanted that Bubble Yum and I memorized that scripture.

That is such a great memory for me. However, I suspect you are wondering why I am sharing it. I don’t really know. However, I think it does illustrate an important point. If you are wondering if it matters whether or not your children go to church, it does.

If I memorized a new scripture tomorrow, by next Sunday I would probably have forgotten what I memorized. I might retain the message behind the scripture but the exact text would have to be looked up again. It’s been more than 35 years since I memorized John 3:16 yet I still remember it so easily. So yes, what kids learn when they are young will stick with them for decades to come.

That may or may not matter to you, but I am just glad for an opportunity to share such a happy moment for me. I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday. Until next time, enjoy this day of rest.