Our present was their future. Those who have gone before us dreamed of this very day. Wished they could be here. They tried to imagine what types of homes you’d have, cars you’d drive, food you’d eat. You and your children are doing things that people a generation ago wouldn’t believe.

That’s the beauty of the time capsule. You have the chance to create a storehouse of memorabilia that will intrigue someone else someday. For starters, take the front page of a newspaper to provide a slice of time. Maybe take off labels from foods or gadgets—anything that represents who you are and what you did. Write a list of your favorite movies and books.

Create a letter that describes everyone in your family. Include a stack of photos. Tuck in a small gospel tract that tells discoverers how they can get to know God. Jot a note explaining why He’s so important in your life. Then bury everything in a waterproof, rust-proof container at least several feet underground.

Creating a time capsule gives a gift to the future. You probably will miss the grand reopening, but this isn’t about you. That’s one of the main points to share with your kids. You’re passing along a snapshot that some future family could never experience. You’ll never know how much they appreciate that you cared enough to share your lives.

Life goes on. Someday it will continue without you and your chance for impact will pass. Make your mark on your child’s heart while it’s malleable. You have no idea how many more opportunities you’ll have or what the future holds. But you can invest now so that when they open their time capsule of memory, they’ll pull out many mementos of joy.