People I Remember

Think about people you’ve liked, admired or respected during your lifetime. They could be people you’ve known all your life, or met just briefly. Now choose one person from each category below and describe them in detail. (Take turns.) Try to tell a story about each person that shows their character or personality. Or describe your relationship to the person. What is interesting or memorable about the person? Why do you remember him or her?

Take turns telling about one or more persons from each category:

A family member

A friend

A teacher

A stranger

A customer or vendor

How does your memory of people change over time? What kinds of things do you forget? What kinds of things are easiest to remember?

Do you ever try to “make a memory”? In the movie, “Parent Trap”, a young girl meets her grandfather for the first time and tries to make a memory by sniffing carefully the smell of tobacco and peppermint on his jacket. How do you create a memorable experience? Have you ever tried to plan an event that you or someone else would never forget? How did you do it?

Many names and genealogies of people in Jewish families from as old as 2000 BC are listed in the Bible. Sometimes there is a very short description of a person in addition to the name. The following man was not a king or anyone important, but he is remembered with more detail than most of the men.

“And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm, that it may not pain me!” And God granted what he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

What are the special items that are remembered about Jabez? Name at least 3. How will you be remembered?