Remembering God's Faithfulness
I took my mom to her doctor’s appointment yesterday. Over the past couple of years her health has declined along with her memory. Over and over she comments about her frustration of not being able to remember things as well as she did a few years ago.
So, at this doctor’s appointment, we mentioned mom’s concern about memory loss. In response, the doctor pulled out a one sheet quick memory assessment.
After asking her a few basic questions about current date and home address, the doctor then told her she was going to say the names of three objects for mom to tell them back to her. Mom correctly listed the three objects back to her. She then said I’m going to ask you for those same three objects after a couple of more questions. When she came back to those objects for mom to name, my mother was blank. In a matter of 45 seconds, she could not name one of the objects.
As I ponder my mom’s memory loss, I’m reminded of an even greater memory loss that we all often experience – forgetting God’s goodness and faithfulness to us.
Throughout the scriptures we are told not to forget what God has done for us. And, we are warned that if we forget, pride will eventually destroy our lives.
To help us remember God’s works, rituals and traditions are established as continual reminders. You’re probably familiar with several of the Jewish feasts and observances: Passover, Day of Atonement, Hanukkah, and on a weekly basis the observance of the Sabbath.
In many Christian traditions, Christmas and Easter are the two major holidays along with the regular observances of the Sabbath and the Lord’s Supper. I appreciate churches that also incorporate other Memory Markers such as Advent, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday and Lent.
In my teenage years, I was taught to include a quiet time in my daily schedule. While I have not maintained this practice every day of my life, it has been a vital part of my journey. These minutes in the early morning for scripture reading and prayer start my day with the reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Over these next few months, I will accompany my mom to a neurologist appointment to see what can be done to slow down her memory loss. At the same time, I’m even more determined to work better at strengthening my spiritual memory…
To create new memory markers
To journal
To speak often of God’s faithfulness in my life.
I invite you to join me as I seek to follow in the steps of the psalmist who said,
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalms 77:11-12