Remembering
R is
for Remembering…
for Remembering…
1. Be able to bring to one’s mind an
awareness of what has been known before.
awareness of what has been known before.
2. Recall,
recollect, reminisce, looking back, reliving
recollect, reminisce, looking back, reliving
My earliest memory is the trundle bed on wheels that fit
under my parent’s bed. It was pulled out
each night and each day for naps. To me
it was an oasis of rest, a place that I shared with my brothers while we were
young. I remember watching my Mom rhythmically
pedalling the Singer Sewing machine. She
usually had one or two of us hanging on either side of her watching the needle
rise and fall, piercing the material, drawing the thread into neat
stitches. I remember the grass lawn on
the east side of the house, fenced in with a picket fence. My brothers and I played in the sand pile
that Dad built for us. I remember the
small kitchen and my seat at the table, a flour barrel, just my height.
under my parent’s bed. It was pulled out
each night and each day for naps. To me
it was an oasis of rest, a place that I shared with my brothers while we were
young. I remember watching my Mom rhythmically
pedalling the Singer Sewing machine. She
usually had one or two of us hanging on either side of her watching the needle
rise and fall, piercing the material, drawing the thread into neat
stitches. I remember the grass lawn on
the east side of the house, fenced in with a picket fence. My brothers and I played in the sand pile
that Dad built for us. I remember the
small kitchen and my seat at the table, a flour barrel, just my height.
I remember my Dad trying to teach me multiplication
facts. No matter how often he said, “Remember….”, the ‘9’s’ were too difficult
to remember. Years later I learned about
‘Multiple Intelligences’ and different modalities of learning and remembering –
through musical–rhythmic, visual-spatial, verbal-linguistic,
logical–mathematical, bodily–kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Often rote memory is the least
productive way of remembering. Making
the learning your own in your own way is the most productive way. Coupled with emotion, learning becomes even
stronger.
facts. No matter how often he said, “Remember….”, the ‘9’s’ were too difficult
to remember. Years later I learned about
‘Multiple Intelligences’ and different modalities of learning and remembering –
through musical–rhythmic, visual-spatial, verbal-linguistic,
logical–mathematical, bodily–kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Often rote memory is the least
productive way of remembering. Making
the learning your own in your own way is the most productive way. Coupled with emotion, learning becomes even
stronger.
These memories represent who we are and how we learn in the
future. Memories fade in time. I remember the loss I felt when I could no
longer remember the sound of my Dad’s laughter after he died.
future. Memories fade in time. I remember the loss I felt when I could no
longer remember the sound of my Dad’s laughter after he died.
But wait, there is more to remembering. There is perception that makes our truth
through the experiences we have had.
Last Sunday in church, the Pastor began singing the ‘Doxology’. I remembered how often Mother’s thankfulness
and love for God and his blessings moved her to stop and sing the
Doxology. It felt as if Mom smiled in
Heaven and sang with us.
through the experiences we have had.
Last Sunday in church, the Pastor began singing the ‘Doxology’. I remembered how often Mother’s thankfulness
and love for God and his blessings moved her to stop and sing the
Doxology. It felt as if Mom smiled in
Heaven and sang with us.
In the past two years, I have had to learn not to ask, ‘Do
you remember?’ to my dear husband. He realizes he can’t remember and the
covering of dementia deepens. As time
goes on, I see that his memories have eroded into a feeling of remembering, but
hidden in a fog. The casual conversation
and understanding from years together is no longer possible.
you remember?’ to my dear husband. He realizes he can’t remember and the
covering of dementia deepens. As time
goes on, I see that his memories have eroded into a feeling of remembering, but
hidden in a fog. The casual conversation
and understanding from years together is no longer possible.
Remembering has two sides — bad memories and good
memories. Bad memories usually contain
hurt, shame or guilt that weighs us down.
There is one way to erase the hurt, shame and guilt – and that is
through Jesus Christ. When I saw the
number of ‘remembers’ in the Bible, I know that remembering God is eternally important. When we accept Jesus, this verse comes to my
mind…. And do not bring sorrow
to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he
has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the
day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
memories. Bad memories usually contain
hurt, shame or guilt that weighs us down.
There is one way to erase the hurt, shame and guilt – and that is
through Jesus Christ. When I saw the
number of ‘remembers’ in the Bible, I know that remembering God is eternally important. When we accept Jesus, this verse comes to my
mind…. And do not bring sorrow
to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he
has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the
day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
No matter what our lives brings us, the ‘Remember’ that Jesus died for us, is
enough to carry us over the deepest chasm of doubt and disaster. Being His
Own brings praises to our lips and a song in our heart.
enough to carry us over the deepest chasm of doubt and disaster. Being His
Own brings praises to our lips and a song in our heart.
What does it take to be His Own? Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and
Love. A love that is deep and wide and
stretches beyond the clouds with faithfulness.
I love Him because He first loved me.
Just because I can’t see Him, I know He is and loves me. The wind blows wherever
it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or
where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Love. A love that is deep and wide and
stretches beyond the clouds with faithfulness.
I love Him because He first loved me.
Just because I can’t see Him, I know He is and loves me. The wind blows wherever
it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or
where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Remembering,
someone once said, is thinking backward.
Living in the remembering place is growing forward. When I remember Jesus and His love, it
strengthens my love for Him. When I
remember answered prayer, my faith grows.
When I remember how my grandparents and parents trusted in God through
famine, hard times and being in need, it strengthens my trust in God. When I remember the stories of Abraham,
Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Samson, Moses, King David, Esther and Ruth, I see their
faith in God in action. I see their
faith and know God is real and His Word is true. When I experience family celebrations, I know
that Grandmother Suderman’s desire to have all her children’s children’s
children gather together in Heaven will come to pass. I see the generations continue on and praise
God for His goodness.
someone once said, is thinking backward.
Living in the remembering place is growing forward. When I remember Jesus and His love, it
strengthens my love for Him. When I
remember answered prayer, my faith grows.
When I remember how my grandparents and parents trusted in God through
famine, hard times and being in need, it strengthens my trust in God. When I remember the stories of Abraham,
Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Samson, Moses, King David, Esther and Ruth, I see their
faith in God in action. I see their
faith and know God is real and His Word is true. When I experience family celebrations, I know
that Grandmother Suderman’s desire to have all her children’s children’s
children gather together in Heaven will come to pass. I see the generations continue on and praise
God for His goodness.
When I
remember each child, grandchild and great grandchild, I pray. It seems that the more children there are,
the more need for prayer there is and I thank God for this truth. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power
and produces wonderful results. James
5:16b
remember each child, grandchild and great grandchild, I pray. It seems that the more children there are,
the more need for prayer there is and I thank God for this truth. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power
and produces wonderful results. James
5:16b
Every Lord’s Day, I celebrate the Lord’s Supper, remembering
the price that Jesus paid for me on the cross, that I might be saved. And remembering, I wonder and glory in His
love.
the price that Jesus paid for me on the cross, that I might be saved. And remembering, I wonder and glory in His
love.
•
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends
you. Remember, the
Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians
3:13
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends
you. Remember, the
Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians
3:13
•
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will
love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone
who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my
words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these
things now while I am still with you. John 14:23-25
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will
love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone
who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my
words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these
things now while I am still with you. John 14:23-25
•
“If the world hates you, remember that it
hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged
to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the
world, so it hates you. John 15:18
“If the world hates you, remember that it
hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged
to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the
world, so it hates you. John 15:18
• “So remember this
and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is
God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. If you obey all
the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and
your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life
in the land the Lord your
God is giving you for all time.”
Deuteronomy 4:39-40
and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is
God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. If you obey all
the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and
your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life
in the land the Lord your
God is giving you for all time.”
Deuteronomy 4:39-40
•
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before
it even happens. Everything I plan will
come to pass, for I do whatever I
wish. Isaiah 46:9-10
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before
it even happens. Everything I plan will
come to pass, for I do whatever I
wish. Isaiah 46:9-10
•
But you are not controlled
by your sinful nature. You
are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.
(And remember that
those who do not have
the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) Romans 8:9
But you are not controlled
by your sinful nature. You
are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.
(And remember that
those who do not have
the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) Romans 8:9
Comments? eacombs@att.net