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The Mall That Holds So Many Memories By Patti Greene

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Two Hearts

Memorial City Mall

I first started visiting Houston’s Memorial City Mall at fourteen—yes, I was an eleventh grader then, but that is another story, and it doesn’t involve any intelligence on my part.

Back then, the mall was small and simple enough to walk from end to end—okay, it was really shaped like a right triangle. Today, it is enormous, with an ice-skating rink, a movie theater, a lot of seating, and a food court that stays super busy even as other malls fade or get torn down.

Walking through the mall again today stirred something in me—a gentle pull of memory and a reminder of how faithfully God has carried me through every season.

Today, I remembered…

  • The one and only maternity store, where I bought two of my “big dresses” and dreamed of tiny fingers and toes.
  • Foley’s at Christmas—now Macy’s—it felt magical then.
  • Sears was full of bargains—and clothing racks where my four-year-old nephew, now forty-five, once “got lost” while I babysat him. I totally freaked out.
  • Montgomery Ward—the place to buy appliances built to last.
  • The 5-7-9 Store. Once, I bought a shorts-and-top outfit there that I knew my parents would never approve of, so I smuggled it in and out in my purse whenever I wanted to wear it. I would never have let my own daughter leave the house dressed as I was! Then one day, the outfit disappeared. I think Mom found the outfit. But now, what you might be thinking: Why confess now? Because it’s just a memory now!
  • My children begged to visit Build-A-Bear and make a keepsake bear. But because we could not afford it, I usually steered us to the other side of the corridor when we passed.
  • Every so often, though, we could afford the Merry-Go-Round. I can still see all three children smiling as their horses circled.
  • Then came the double-stroller days: two children tucked into the stroller while the youngest toddler insisted on pushing the older two.
  • And more recently, the jewelry store where my husband bought me a beautiful ring guard as a gift, after years of us living at my mom’s home.
  • Oh, and how can I forget the Piccadilly!

I treasured those years as a stay-at-home mom, and I have lots of memories from those days.

And then… Abercrombie

Abercrombie was not there when I first started visiting the mall. When it finally opened, I was in my super-conservative phase. Between the loud music, the cologne you could smell from ten stores away, and the provocative posters, I honestly thought walking by their storefront window might be such an awful sin.

It starts with the Word

That makes me laugh now. As we mature, our perspectives change. We grow. God gently loosens our grip on some beliefs we once held so tightly—while still staying within the bounds of “correct” doctrine. Don’t think I turned liberal-I’m about as conservative as they get, but not as staunch, if that makes sense.

Still, those memories are part of my story.

McDonald’s with Dad

When the mall built a food court, Dad always wanted to stop there. We would eat, and people-watching was one of his favorite things, especially as he aged and did not get out much. It was simple time together, watching life pass by, and those moments stay with me.

The People

  • Walking the mall with high school friends, feeling grown-up and free.
  • Food-court lunches with Mom, Dad, and Aunt Mary.
  • The small hospital nearby—Memorial City Hospital—where two of our children were born.
  • The Frostwood Bank across Gessner Rd.
  • A lifetime of seasons tucked into every corner.

Why Do We Hold on to Memories?

Barna’s research suggests that nostalgia anchors us. It reminds us that our lives have meaning, God has been faithful, and our stories matter. The research also indicates that reflecting on the past with gratitude can strengthen spiritual resilience.

[In most cases, I would say, but not all! PG]

In other words, looking back can help us move forward with hope, but it can reverse that when we look back with regret.

Memories hold both sweetness and sorrow.

Moving forward does not mean erasing the past. As hard as it can be, it means letting God guide our hearts so we don’t get trapped there by ruminating on past days or past desires. Ruminating is unbearable! Believe me.

From what I have experienced, retirement or a slower pace can leave more time to think about the what-ifs—the things we wish we had done, tried, or hadn’t done.  Even then, God cares about us and wants us to receive His love. He knows our heart’s desires, and He always knows best. He knows every moment, loves us, and desires His presence with us. But it still doesn’t stop me from asking for “His favor” sometimes!!!

Today’s walk through the mall was a pleasant journey into my memory: recalling the good, laughing at the funny moments, and thanking the Lord for His faithfulness through every shop, aisle, season, and year.

Bible Verses for Looking Back and Looking Ahead

“Remember the wondrous works that He has done.”
1 Chronicles 16:12

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”
Philippians 3:13

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege of looking back on the pleasant things we remember as we grow up. You are always putting new adventures and circumstances into our lives. You bless us so much. Thank you. Let us laugh and rejoice in the happy memories of the past, and help us find peace and comfort in the memories we regretted or that shook us up. I will be grateful today for all you do and all you have done. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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#Malls #Memories #ShoppingMalls #MemorialCityMall #Houston #Joy #Regrets #Rumination #God #Philippians3:33 #1 Chronicles16:12 #Retirement 

Books by Patti Greene

Coming Soon: Luke 2: The Christmas Story: Discover the Birth of Jesus in Scripture

Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God ISBN: 979-8284335017 

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer ISBN: 978-1512760453

Bible Word Search Puzzles: The Gospels ISBN: 979-8218070465

Bible Word Search Puzzles: Acts and Epistles ISBN: 979-8218092696

Bible Word Search Puzzles: Epistles and Revelation ISBN: 979-8363612046

Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending ISBN: 978-0692115381

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal ISBN: 978-1490893181

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Prayer and Bible Study ISBN: 978-1490893174

Life Issues

Moving

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines moving as “changing [a] place or position as relating to the activity or process of moving to a different place to live or work.”

Have you ever had to move in one way or another? Most of us will answer an astounding “YES” to that question. Maybe you have moved to a new house, a new job, a new spiritual journey, or a new stage of life.

Just recently, I encountered moving home to the U.S. after living in Nigeria. I am in the process of adjusting. Many days I find myself pondering or exploring how to pick up the pieces left behind; how to console myself when my friends have moved on in my absence; how to not miss the past; and how to basically get back into the swing of Western culture.

It is tough readjusting. While I feel I “deserve” an adjustment phase, it probably doesn’t help that I am holding on to the past as tightly as children hold on to their security blankets. I am still thinking of my Lagos church, my Lagos Bible study, my Lagos apartment, my newly found Lagos friends, The Punch (the best Nigerian newspaper), and even the little Lagos fabric store at the mall. I miss my Lagos driver and my Lagos housekeeper. And, I don’t miss them so much for their service as I do for their camaraderie. And, all this deep stirring in my heart is creating an emotional response that I am not too proud of.

Maybe you are experiencing a loss of some kind: a job loss, a painful divorce, or a death in the family.  I have been sitting on my couch, way more than I should be lately, cradling a pity-party in my heart and mourning my loss. So, I decided to research how two Bible characters dealt with moving on – one who did so the wrong way and one who did it the right way. And, incidentally, both are named SAUL!

In the Old Testament, King Saul was chosen by the prophet Samuel to be Israel’s first king. King Saul started out as a righteous man, but he allowed his jealousy to get the best of him. When David returned from killing Goliath, 1 Samuel 18:7-9 states, “And the women responded as they laughed and frolicked, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very angry, for the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?’ And Saul [jealously] eyed David from that day forward.” Saul’s problem was he foresaw a “JOB LOSS” and he couldn’t accept that he would have to move on. Read 1 Samuel 18-31.

The process King Saul embraced in order NOT TO HAVE TO MOVE ON involved:

–          He harbored ill-feelings and jealousy;

–          He tried to kill [David];

–          He encountered evil spirits;

–          He became angry;

–          He actively sought evil;

–          He lived an inconsistent life towards God;

–          He sought a medium instead of God;

–          He committed suicide.

Wouldn’t it have been a lot easier for King Saul to deal with his ill-feelings and jealousy? He could then have moved on and accepted God’s will and proceeded to the next phase of his life gracefully and with God by his side?

Now, let’s look at someone who had to move on – someone who did it the right way.

In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus (who later became known as Paul), a die-hard Jew, moved from being a relentless persecutor of believers to a saved follower of Jesus Christ. Saul ravaged the church with threats and actually murdered Christ’s disciples along the way. But one day, on the way to Damascus, a light shone from heaven and Saul came face to face with Jesus’ voice. He became a new man in Christ. After his conversion, Paul was without sight, food, and drink for three days. But as only the Lord can do, He brought Ananias into his life to encourage him in the Lord. He was baptized, ate, and then was strengthened. Paul stayed with Jesus’ disciples being trained in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ. After his training (and adjustment period), Paul, moved into proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues and beyond. Read Acts 9.

The process Paul used to get him to the place of MOVING ON involved:

–          He embraced his change;

–          He allowed for time of solitude;

–          He accepted encouragement;

–          He strengthened himself by spending time in counseling and training;

–          He actively involved himself in God’s work.

Now, which approach seems best to you – King Saul’s or Saul of Tarsus’ approach?

We all go through transitions in life. Don’t be afraid of the changes in your life. We get hung up on our changes because we are emotional beings. Sometimes we don’t like change, while other times, we do. For you, your transition may involve laughing, smiling, tears, and/or sorrow. We will always have events and circumstances that will confront us. Moving away, moving on, or moving forward brings their own unique challenges, hardships, and/or excitement. Let’s try to use the experiences we face today as a springboard to focus on what is yet to come in God’s eyes. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I think that what God is telling me from this study personally is, “Patti, don’t be afraid of the changes in your life. I sent you to Nigeria; and, I just sent you back. I know what I am doing. Follow your own advice, and DON’T REMOVE ME FROM YOUR MOVES.”

And likewise, “Don’t remove God from your moves.” He knows exactly what He is doing.

Amen.

Moving Away Verse:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Moving On Verse:

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

Moving Forward Verse:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

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