Remember
Every year, I make a photo book of the year that was for the grandparents who have everything they need but live far from our family. They love to see the kids and how much they’ve grown throughout the year. It’s kind of a fun thing except that I don’t do it a little at a time as the year progresses.
While that would seem to make sense, it would rob me of the thing this present does most – reminds me about the gifts God has given me.
A husband that loves me like Jesus loves the church.
Two healthy, happy (mostly), sweet children with hearts for Jesus.
A beast of a dog that loves us unconditionally – I think.
Another year on this earth to learn more about Jesus, be a witness of His love and forgiveness and to see the miracles He performs every day.
I can forget that just as easily as I can forget what happened in January or February, or, as I get older, just a month ago. This past October, my eighth grade daughter traveled to Washington D.C. with her class. It’s a trip the students start planning for two years earlier by raising money, talking about what it will mean and then going in early October of their eighth grade year. The rest of the year, they reflect back on all they saw – on the experience of being where history was made on battlefields and in the U.S. Supreme Court. They saw practically every monument or memorial you could in 8 days.
And while she is a history buff like her father, she even got to the point where she texted me, “I don’t want to see one more statue of dead people…”
I get that – it’s one more reminder of what was lost as well as what was gained. But for a sensitive pondering soul like my daughter, the accumulated weight of the loss was probably too much. And it’s not that I don’t want to remember, but the loss can sometimes overwhelm the good that the memorial is supposed to remind us about.
But I just love that God knew that and yet He wants us to look back and remember. He even wants us to have monuments or markers to remind us and our children of the past – of His glory in our lives.
“When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’
… We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.’” – Joshua 1:1-3, 6-7 (NLT)
We remember His glory – what the Lord has done in our lives. We remember that He is the one who has lifted the stones, made the path and gave us a hope and a future.
“…Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundations of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:…” – Zechariah 12:1b (NKJV)
Remember.
Who God is.
His power.
His love.
“‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’” – John 3:16 (ESV)
Remember that Jesus’ death was an act of love.
Pass it on to your children so that they can pass it on to theirs.
“Tell your sons about it,
And let your sons tell their sons,
And their sons the next generation.” – Joel 1:3 (NASB)
Because without that, our lives – our salvation – is selfish and that’s not what remembering is about. There is not one statue in Washington D.C. that was resurrected by the individual whose contribution to our country is being remembered. In fact, as my daughter would tell you, most of the memorials were grave markers. Markers of a life given for our country.
And isn’t that what our lives should be – makers of a life given for our salvation – Jesus’ life given so that ours may live on even after there is a grave marker here on earth that marks the memory of our lives.
Couldn’t – shouldn’t our only epitaph be:
“Paid Christ Forward.”
Wow, awesome post.
This was beautifully said. I have been the process of going through old pictures and remembering. While it is sad, the happy memories are much more, the memories of a life well lived. This type of remembering is something that I have been pondering lately. Your post is a confirmation for me that I’m on the right path. Thank you.
Denise – thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Deborah- glad that this was confirming to you – love your outlook! The good definitely outnumber the unhappy… And, even when I think of those in tough circumstances where that may be less obvious, I believe the peace of Jesus has the power to comfort and reveal truths to them about His love that outweighs any circumstances. Love and grace to you in Christ- Niccol
Powerful reminder that we should remember the God of our salvation.