If you could remember only one or two things and lost everything else, what would you choose to remember?
Over the years, I’ve observed a number of people lose their memories due to dementia, stroke, other accident, or any number of other events that suddenly or gradually impact their lives. Wives forgot they were married, parents didn’t recognize their children, people from all walks of life lost their identity along the way.
I’ve sometimes pondered in my quiet times of meditation, if I were left with the ability to remember just one or two things, and if I could choose what those were, what would rise to the top of my list to remember and never forget? What comes to your mind? Maybe you’d choose to remember your faith, your marriage, your family. It’s unlikely you’d choose to remember all the trivia you’ve collected in your brain and it seems very likely that trivia competes fiercely with other important things we want to remember!
Of course we don’t have choice or control over such events in our life. Or do we? I’ve written before how our frequent and most passionate thoughts and experiences build neurological paths in the brain. Like a path cut through a meadow by frequent visits, our brains find it easy to access these memories quickly. Thoughts and experiences that we neglect become like paths overgrown with thorn bushes; the path is almost erased by neglect. It is like that with God’s Word and close relationships. The more we focus our time, energy, and passions in these, that memory becomes ingrained in our memory and in our very identity.
That doesn’t provide a guarantee that we will always and forever remember these, but it seems that we have some ability to intentionally strengthen our memories. On each of our 41 wedding anniversaries, Marcia and I revisit our favorite memories of being together and the people we have met along the way. And we try to purposely set aside times to make new memories together. We remember what we imprint on our brains.
How important is the gift of memory! God reminds us throughout his Word, “REMEMBER I am your God.” The psalmists frequently recall the Lord’s deeds so they can remember how God has been faithful through the ages. I find encouragement and hope in remembering how God’s goodness and faithfulness has led me through the trials of the past ten months with Leukemia. Surely, He has not taken me this far to abandon me in present trials!
Remembering past faithfulness builds our hope for the future! It reminds us of God’s compassion and mercies which are renewed every morning. Here’s to building paths to our very most important memories and to making new memories that will make today matter!
Indeed remembering…out of 2012 into 2013 I have about 6 months of blackness with very few memories after my accident. However, the people I remember, the things I might recognize are truly because of the impact that was made. A special helping hand from someone, a friendly face during a trying time, someone who stopped their work to pray with me, and the time I spent with my TV pastor every Sunday. I also remember some scary times but I choose not to give those such worth. I appreciate your post and really am glad that this time around I am clear headed and not too drugged up to remember every single bit of it. Thank you for such a thoughtful post. With love, Emily
Emily, your experience is a good testimony of why we each need to develop the habit of giving thanks every day for simple gifts that we often take for granted, like memory. Thanks for sharing!