The Season of Remembering

December 3, 2009

One of God's many gifts to us is the Gift of Memory. God was very specific about what things should be remembered and what things should not. Therein lies the secret of a happy life.

God says He will remember our sins no more, once we ask His Forgiveness. What if we did that? What if every time someone wronged us, we forgave them and completely forgot the wrong. If this was the first time someone wronged you, would you cut them a little more slack than if it had happened multiple times before? Would you treat yourself more kindly if this was the first time you messed up?

God has given us abundant blessings in our life, and yet how quickly we forget when we are faced with difficult times. My parents, who God graciously allowed to live into their 90s, were faced with many physical challenges at the end of their lives. And yet, close to the end of her life, my mother said to my father, "God has been so good to us all of our lives. How could we do anything but trust Him now!"

They remembered ... and like the lights of a Christmas night that shone through the darkness, the Light of Faith brightened everything around them. We all saw it!

When we look back to Christmas Past, sometimes we remember what we did not get that we wanted. When we look at Christmas Present, we may think of who or what is missing. When we look at Christmas Future, if we only remember the dark, it will be harder to see the Light of the Star leading us on.

But when we remember all the blessings that even now surround us, how could we do anything, but praise the Lord for all He is! At the end of His Time on earth, Jesus was careful to remind us to remember Him ... not just on Christmas, but every day of the year. Take a moment now. Be still and consider what He wants you to be sure to remember! As an old hymn says, "Count your many blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings. See what God has done!"

And now enjoy a song just between you and Jesus ... you may have heard it before ... take a moment to remember. Jesus loves me ... this I know!