We had the opportunity to share a meal with two older women on our recent trip across the Atlantic aboard a cruise ship. When telling one of the ladies about our travels around the world and the many incredible adventures we have been on, she looked at me and said ‘it’s such a shame that they won’t remember any of this’.
It stopped me and made me think. Will they not remember any of this?
They might not remember horseback riding in Spain, but I bet they remember how it felt to find joy in the simplicity of farm life and routine, of good food and being in nature.
They might not remember a ten hour bus ride through the Sahara, but I bet they remember how good it felt to hand out stickers to children in western Egypt.
They might not remember hiking to the peak of a mountain in Wales, but I bet they remember wanting to give up then digging deep and finding out how strong they are.
Even if they don’t remember specific memories was it worth it?
They are witnessing courage and bravery lived out. Two parents who chose to live differently and not be squashed into a box. A family who powerfully decided not to be governed by ‘what if’s’ and ‘I wish’. At seven and nine years they are contributors to the decision making, beliefs and values held by this family. They have a say. They are learning that their voice matters.
They are gaining first hand experience of how kind and caring the world is and also how broken it is. More than anything, they are aware of the pursuit of love, an omnipotent force that protects and guides us. Across culture, religion, time and destination a consistent presence that has been a light to our path.
Perhaps one of the greatest and proudest take aways from our time abroad is the permission our girls have to ask questions and be curious in a world that increasingly disapproves of such things. This is the gateway to change, to critical thinking and truth. It also creates space for the unknown and inexplainable.
So will they remember it all? Does anybody ever? In my opinion its a moot point. Who cares? When is the age that someone is deserving of travel based on how much they ‘remember’?
Two little lives are being formed daily by our travel around the world. No experience, no encounter, no moment wasted. One thing is for sure, this season is a richly treasured chapter that will continue to form, challenge and transform each of us for the rest of our lives.
The Whole of Us 
Leave a comment