Recently my husband and I sat on the couch recounting pleasant memories of our childhood; things that have held a fond, sweet spot in our hearts. We both agreed that certain smells take us back to the days when our lives reflected the innocence of youthfulness.
For my husband he recalled earthy, woodsy scents which are reminiscent of the Skoal Long Cut Wintergreen that his grandfather used to chew.
And for myself, every once in a blue moon, I’ll pause any and everything I’m doing if I come across the smell that replicates my years of visiting my grandparents home in Costa Mesa, CA. That just does it for me. There was a fresh and calming fragrance in the air that came along with those years, and I nearly stop the world every time I catch that mimicked scent.
While getting a little nostalgic and reflecting on sentimental things of the past, I have to keep in check that I’m not yearning too hard for the old stuff…not giving it more value than my current state…physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, etc.
But rather I have to remain mindful in thanking God for those good, sweet memories and then equally living with a heart of gratefulness for this present time. After all, life (along with time) always moves forward according to God’s control and His plans.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 says,
“Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.”
Each one of us is blessed with a memory…God has given purpose in allowing us to healthily recall times of old, BUT to enjoy the here and now gives us the opportunity to live in the moment as a witness of His goodness while sharing in that with others. Enjoying these current moments creates nostalgia for the future, all with the encouragement that our lives, secured through Him, have the best yet to come as we move closer toward Heaven.
About For His Purpose~
My name is Alicia and I'm a thirty-something year old who loves Jesus.
Only through God’s amazing grace and mercy I have been redeemed from past regret and shame. Reading His word has allowed me to look past Satan’s forceful lies, to see myself for who Christ says I am in Him.
Through writing I have learned why I made the choices I made in my younger years and I now have a better understanding of why I desire to love God like crazy these days.
Despite my daily failures, God remains faithful always. I am reassured of His unconditional love for me by every ink-drop spilled out on paper, each committed prayer as I cry out to Him, and deep understanding reflected through reading His word as truth.
Yes keeping a blog will make me vulnerable to others’ opinions- there will be some who don’t understand, some who may criticize or judge, but on the other hand if just one piece expressed through my writing grabs someone’s attention and directs them to God, then pouring out my heart in a blog for the world to read is worth it. I choose to glorify Him alone through words streaming across a glowing screen.
And it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t reveal the fact that I’m incredibly quirky; I’m my loving husband’s best friend, my vivacious kids’ craziest cheerleader and spiritual trainer (3 John 1:4). I love anything farmhouse and rustic style. I think cupping a warm coffee mug in the palm of my hands is more satisfying than the contents within. I share a common obsession with my husband for the mountains, but I would (without a doubt) settle for waves crashing against my legs at the Atlantic Ocean just as well, and I almost always have a Yorkie curled up on my lap while writing.
*All photos are photographed by forhispurpose.blog and therefore may not be stored or photocopied in any manner.
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24 thoughts on “Nostalgic Blessings”
Oh yes…fresh cut wood off the sawmill, wood smoke from a chimney or our picnic area. so many childhood memories. maybe that is why I love woodworking with the unique smells of each different species. I still don’t like the smell of Balm of Gilliad or swamp ash smell, but it’s nostalgic for the stories.
This is excellent, Alicia! Nathan and I were talking either Tuesday or Wednesday how it was “a Florida air day.” I don’t know what is in the air that reminds me of my childhood going to Disney world, but like you, I will stop and take in the scent. I am thankful for you! I am thankful for your honesty and authenticity! You are such a blessing!!!
Thank you, Mandy!! I love that you get it! There’s a few other things than just the California air… my grandma‘s pantry always had ginger snaps, so I love anytime that I get that scent, and then the geranium flowers and walnut trees along with the grass there, the smell of their water from the indoor faucets and lastly when we’d go down to the pier at Newport Beach, there was a fresh fish stand right next to it…all of those smells are nearly to Heaven for me when I catch them these days.
That warms my heart so much!!!! Thank you for sharing this!!!!!! Where we live in PA is 4 hours from Ocean City Maryland. Every time I smell driveway sealer, I am reminded of the beach! I am looking forward to the beautiful spring scents that God blesses us with!!!! 🤗🤗🧡🧡🙏🙏
Enjoying these current moments creates nostalgia for the future, all with the encouragement that our lives, secured through Him, have the best yet to come as we move closer toward Heaven – Amen to that. I do think we tend to wish for old times when we reminisce about them. I really like your reminder to be present and enjoy these moments and be aware of God being with us now and working in our current moments.
Blessings Alicia 💐💙
Beautiful post! All the days of our lives matter to God! It is good to celebrate the happy times of the past, but not at the expense of the current time. We are in fact, always ‘making memories’. And when we look at it that way, our focus is on how we can use the present time in the best possible way. Our ‘happy times’ are often those spent with our loved ones doing ‘perfectly ordinary’ things. Later, we come to see that the best times are the times we savor and live in the moment. This was an awesome post for the first of March…spring on its way, our hearts full of springtime joy. God is busy renewing the earth. We are busy renewing our lives for His good purposes for all of our days.
Very sweet comment, Linda.. thank you for reflecting with me. I love what you said here, “our focus is on how we can use the present time in the best possible way.” We must be ever-mindful that our words and actions are positive, pointing others to Christ.
It’s funny how certain smells can trigger certain memories. And like you, there is certain scent that reminds me of my grandmother’s home. When she first passed away, it was hard to bear. As time has moved on, I can savor it. I love the reminder to not keep our eyes in the past. And I find I spend a lot of time thinking about the future too. I want to remember to be present in the memories we are creating today. Thank you for this heartfelt post. 🤍
Thank you, Bridget. My grandma that lived near me here in Nebraska just passed away in January and her pantry always had this distinct, bakery type smell. I’m not sure I’ll ever find a replica of that. Lol …but I hold that memory dear, and look for ways that I can create things (smell, taste, etc) that maybe my future grandchildren will be able to reflect back upon for nostalgia but most of all I want them to remember my character, pointing them to Jesus.
Accept it but appreciate it, learn from it, and choose to do life presently in a way that is encouraging to ourselves and one another and glorifying to God—therefore we create positive memories for the future just like the old days.
It’s such a blessing that we can reflect back on those who’ve been impactful in our lives…we can learn and grow through them…what a gift that God gave us one another to do life with.
I have some roasting pans that always remind me of my grandmother when I use them. And I’m learning to appreciate all those nice ordinary days I get to have with my husband right now.
Alicia, you chose one of my favorite verses from Solomon. It reads so well to any generation . You are so right. Today’s events are tomorrow’s memories. If we don’t have this in perspective it can keep us from seeing today as treasure. God’s grip – Alan
Alan, I love what you said here: “Today’s events are tomorrow’s memories. If we don’t have this in perspective it can keep us from seeing today as treasure.”
I’m thankful for recognizing this truth!!
God revealed his name as I Am meaning he is eternally in the present. He reminds us of things he has done for us in the past, but he is with us in the here and now.
For His Purpose 
Oh yes…fresh cut wood off the sawmill, wood smoke from a chimney or our picnic area. so many childhood memories. maybe that is why I love woodworking with the unique smells of each different species. I still don’t like the smell of Balm of Gilliad or swamp ash smell, but it’s nostalgic for the stories.
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Yes I bet so, there’s something about nature that seems to slow down time and ushers in some good old fashioned nostalgia.
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This is excellent, Alicia! Nathan and I were talking either Tuesday or Wednesday how it was “a Florida air day.” I don’t know what is in the air that reminds me of my childhood going to Disney world, but like you, I will stop and take in the scent. I am thankful for you! I am thankful for your honesty and authenticity! You are such a blessing!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Mandy!! I love that you get it! There’s a few other things than just the California air… my grandma‘s pantry always had ginger snaps, so I love anytime that I get that scent, and then the geranium flowers and walnut trees along with the grass there, the smell of their water from the indoor faucets and lastly when we’d go down to the pier at Newport Beach, there was a fresh fish stand right next to it…all of those smells are nearly to Heaven for me when I catch them these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That warms my heart so much!!!! Thank you for sharing this!!!!!! Where we live in PA is 4 hours from Ocean City Maryland. Every time I smell driveway sealer, I am reminded of the beach! I am looking forward to the beautiful spring scents that God blesses us with!!!! 🤗🤗🧡🧡🙏🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I love that!! I think Ocean City, Maryland would be amazing to visit!
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Enjoying these current moments creates nostalgia for the future, all with the encouragement that our lives, secured through Him, have the best yet to come as we move closer toward Heaven – Amen to that. I do think we tend to wish for old times when we reminisce about them. I really like your reminder to be present and enjoy these moments and be aware of God being with us now and working in our current moments.
Blessings Alicia 💐💙
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Thank you, Manu! We do have much to appreciate..the old and the new alike.
Have a wonderful Sunday, friend!!
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Beautiful post! All the days of our lives matter to God! It is good to celebrate the happy times of the past, but not at the expense of the current time. We are in fact, always ‘making memories’. And when we look at it that way, our focus is on how we can use the present time in the best possible way. Our ‘happy times’ are often those spent with our loved ones doing ‘perfectly ordinary’ things. Later, we come to see that the best times are the times we savor and live in the moment. This was an awesome post for the first of March…spring on its way, our hearts full of springtime joy. God is busy renewing the earth. We are busy renewing our lives for His good purposes for all of our days.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very sweet comment, Linda.. thank you for reflecting with me. I love what you said here, “our focus is on how we can use the present time in the best possible way.” We must be ever-mindful that our words and actions are positive, pointing others to Christ.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s funny how certain smells can trigger certain memories. And like you, there is certain scent that reminds me of my grandmother’s home. When she first passed away, it was hard to bear. As time has moved on, I can savor it. I love the reminder to not keep our eyes in the past. And I find I spend a lot of time thinking about the future too. I want to remember to be present in the memories we are creating today. Thank you for this heartfelt post. 🤍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bridget. My grandma that lived near me here in Nebraska just passed away in January and her pantry always had this distinct, bakery type smell. I’m not sure I’ll ever find a replica of that. Lol …but I hold that memory dear, and look for ways that I can create things (smell, taste, etc) that maybe my future grandchildren will be able to reflect back upon for nostalgia but most of all I want them to remember my character, pointing them to Jesus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Old Days have gone forever, best we accept that.
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Accept it but appreciate it, learn from it, and choose to do life presently in a way that is encouraging to ourselves and one another and glorifying to God—therefore we create positive memories for the future just like the old days.
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I frequently think of my past, and the many people who have been close in the past.
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It’s such a blessing that we can reflect back on those who’ve been impactful in our lives…we can learn and grow through them…what a gift that God gave us one another to do life with.
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Yes. Sometimes I think about the Words in the Bible about strangers. They may be angels unaware.
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Yes, quite possibly!!
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I have some roasting pans that always remind me of my grandmother when I use them. And I’m learning to appreciate all those nice ordinary days I get to have with my husband right now.
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The old and the new…what joy we can celebrate over all areas of our lives.
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Alicia, you chose one of my favorite verses from Solomon. It reads so well to any generation . You are so right. Today’s events are tomorrow’s memories. If we don’t have this in perspective it can keep us from seeing today as treasure. God’s grip – Alan
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Alan, I love what you said here: “Today’s events are tomorrow’s memories. If we don’t have this in perspective it can keep us from seeing today as treasure.”
I’m thankful for recognizing this truth!!
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God revealed his name as I Am meaning he is eternally in the present. He reminds us of things he has done for us in the past, but he is with us in the here and now.
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Amen!!❤️
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