Remember

What do you do to not forget something?

You try to remember it. Simplest of concepts, right?

But, oh, how often we forget things!

Maybe little things like where we placed our keys or our glasses. Or an assignment that is due. Or someone’s birthday or special day. Or remembering things for a test.

Let’s think about “remembering.” How do we practice this in daily life?

We have special spots for things: a hook for keys, a glasses holder, a place on the table or desk. We write things down on sticky notes. We set alarms on our phones. We star or circle dates on our calendars. We make flashcards.

Oh, but as a people, how often we forget!

What does the Word say about remembering? The “call to remember” permeates Scripture:

Passover — We are called to remember the Lord who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt and spared the firstborn, foreshadowing the sacrifice of Christ.

Exodus — We are called to remember the Lord who delivered Israel after 400 plus years of bondage in Egypt.

We are called to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Deuteronomy 4 and 6 — We are called to remember to teach our children when we rise, lie down, sit, and walk in the way. We are called to take care and keep our souls diligently, lest we forget.

Deuteronomy 8 — We are called to remember how the Lord led the children of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness preparing them to enter the land of promise.

The Psalms — We are called to remember the deeds of the LORD, His wonders of old and His law so that we may keep it.

The Lord’s Supper — “Do this in remembrance of me.” We remember the Lord’s death, His perfect sacrifice.

In this season of Lent, we prepare our hearts to remember the suffering of Christ as we approach Holy Week, culminating in the glorious resurrection celebration of Easter. During Lent, instead of thinking of the “giving up” of something as going without something, we can think of it as a time of remembrance. We “give up” something to remember what we have been given.

Think on the bounty we’ve been given. Think on the Lord’s provision. Think on God’s goodness to us.

Why remember?

If we forget, we fall into old patterns; we complain; we sink into the mire; we get stuck.

Instead, stir your heart to remember God’s continual presence. Set your face like flint to follow Him. Think on Him. Yield to His ways.

God is ever present. He is with us.

Let us remember and actively think on …

Take care to…

Take time to…

Attend to …

Pray…

You fill in the blanks.

Ask the Lord to help you remember.

Speak the words from the following Every Moment Holy liturgy as your heart’s cry:

“Call your peoples to remember you always. O peoples of God! Remember your God! Remember Him in all places. Remember Him at all times. Remember His grace and His love. Remember His comfort and His mercy. Remember His beauty and His wonder. Remember His instruction and His holiness. He is here. He is with you every moment. Every moment is holy. Amen.”

Remember Him. He is with you. Call on His Name.

Sing. Pray. Recall. Reflect. Ponder. Dwell. Remember.

by Stephanie Boss, CCS Fifth Grade Teacher