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| Magnet from kleargear.com |
Mark Twain's words decorate the all time best T-shirts, bumper stickers and kitchen magnets. His brilliance is especially poignant now that I’ve passed the middle-age marker and am firmly entrenched in the back half of life.But the back half of life means that my mind—when I can find it—is jamb-packed with memories from that great first half.
Not all memories are pleasant, but they are all evidence of a life well lived. Evidence if only to myself.
Other memories are shared. One of the best and greatest things about being married for several decades is shared memories. Not the ones like, "Yes, I DID remember to pick up the dry cleaning." Or, "Yes, I DID remember to put out the garbage can."
No—those other ones. The taste of ice-cold root beer out of the trunk cooler on a hot Philadelphia afternoon twenty years ago.
Our 4-year old son asking if they call it "Pennsylvania" because they make pencils there.
Our 2-year old daughter trailing Ernie at Sesame Place until he was forced to escape behind the "staff only" gate.
You have your own memories—shared or not shared—that are precious to you.
Today I am particularly grateful for memories. God didn’t have to give us that gift and sometimes, by His grace and wisdom, He gives us selective memory.
When the memory is a good one, we are grateful.
When the memory is painful but a lesson is learned because of it, we are grateful.
When a painful memory is forgotten or seen through the soft filter of time, forgiveness or healing, we are grateful.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. So is a memory. Treasure it as the gift it is from the amazing God of the universe that He is.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for making our brains function the way they do, so that we are able to remember what is important, even if what is important may seem trivial to others. Thank you for making us teachable through learning from our past. Thank you in advance for the new memories and experiences in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Wanna share one precious moment with the world?
****Today's post is part of the Christian Writers blog chain. We're writing about "memory" during the month of August. Please click on the links to the right and see what my friends have to say this month.****
24 comments:
This reminds me of how 'old folks' like to tell some of the same stories over and over. Sometimes they are interesting, sometimes tedious, but I can feel myself wanting to slip into that mode every now and then when one of my own special memories comes to mind... It's all part of getting older, I suppose, and i have a new appreciation for those 'same old stories'. :) Lovely post! (And I can just see Ernie trying to escape!)
I really savor memories, yours were excellent Carol !!
I'm savoring the memories of seeing my grandson Nolan about 3 times a week when he first wakes up, or when I pick him up and he comes running to me yelling "Papi" ... that's his name for me... heehee. Love that dude!!!
@ Tracy - LOL! Yes, I find myself repeating memories--often to the same people. Oh, well, they'll do the same one of these days!
@ Chris - I love hearing about Nolan. And look--you're creating memories for him, too!
I love how some of our memories become the stories of family lore. The ones our kids ask us to tell over and over---how they were born, what they were like as a baby, and such. It helps to draw us together as a family!
@ Heather - you're so right about the family lore--even during those teenage years when the kids claim they "hate" the stories of when they were little. They still need to be remembered and told! Great point, Heather.
Carol - You really hit the nail on the head with God's blessing of "selective" memory. It truly is a wonderful thing.
Thank you for a great post.
-Chris
@ Chris S. - Selective memory is best when it's God who is doing the selecting...Thanks, Chris.
Great post Carol! Memory is indeed a great treasure chest of our lives - some good and some not good. I loved what you said "When a painful memory is forgotten or seen through the soft filter of time, forgiveness or healing, we are grateful." Amen!
I am so glad for the gift of selective memories - if we had to deal with more than a tiny fragment of time, I think we'd explode. God's grace and love is very apparent with the way He has created our mind. Peace and Blessings
@ Terrie - It's so reassuring to find another person in fear of head exploding. Yes, fortunately God created our brains just right, even if we sometimes don't use them correctly...sheesh!
your post triggered the memory of singing the Hymn whose chorus goes "lest I forget........"
biiiiiiiiiiiig hug
@ Jack - LOL, LOL! The perfect hymn for most days! Thanks for the smile (and the hug).
Thanks Carol for a great listing of why we are (or should be) grateful for our memory. I thank the Lord for giving my family and me a lot of wonderful ones.
@ Bill - Glad to hear God blessed your family with wonderful memories!
I really like this line...
Thank you in advance for the new memories and experiences in this life and in the life to come.
When I'm going through something I don't like, I ask God what I am to learn from this.
@ Christine - how encouraging to know you have the wherewithall that comes from faith to ask in advance what you will learn. That's awesome!
Another great post, Carol, and I loved seeing some of those memories which touched you the most. It's the little things, isn't it? God bless you, sister.
@ Deborah - yes, little things can bring great big memories. God bless you back, sister.
Hi Carol, I enjoyed your memories. I agree, our capacity for memory is a beautiful gift from God. I think He wants us to use it to recall His goodness so we can praise and thank Him. Too often, we use it to feel sorry for ourselves. When I look back, I can see His sweet presence in my life, protecting and guiding me even when I was being stupid and rash. Our Lord is wonderful and faithful.
@ Sandi Grace - memory really is a gift, isn't it? And so lovely that--like you said--we can see His love of us in the past even when we didn't see it then. Thanks for your thoughts.
Your "Sesame Place" memory reminded me of a DisneyWorld trip when I was a kid. My brothers and I were posing for a photo with Goofy, and his floppy ear was brushing against my younger brother. My brother batted it away and it flopped over onto Goofy's nose. Goofy started moving like a boxer, like he was going to have a bout with my brother. It was all in fun and for show, of course, but my preteen embarrassment was fueled by the attention of the crowd they were drawing. Thank the Lord that was in the 70s, way before the days of YouTube. ;)
@ Traci - LOL! It would have ended up on America's Funniest Home Video. You could have been rich! Loved the memory of pre-teen angst.
Lol. I've begun to repeat memories to my children. They sometimes get that 'deer in the headlights' look. Other times they smile and nod. But one day I know they'll recall and perhaps repeat stories as well. Lol Great post.
@ Stephanie - yes, they'll repeat them and perhaps the stories will sound even better!
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