Remembering Our Memories… Hello Hump Day readers! As I am writing this devotion, my phone calendar pinged me that tomorrow—Hump Day—I will pick up my 97-year-old mom at the airport. She will be with us for two weeks and then back up to the tundra of northern Wisconsin. One would think that you would remember that day and time but I admit, I’m glad my phone reminds me!

At 97, my mom is sprite, funny, her typical stubbornness (which continues to be just that), and most of all her enduring faith in God which she shared with us as kids and still does with us and many others. Oh the memories I have with mom and dad and my siblings. For me, at 70 years old, I pray that my memory is as sharp as my mom’s but we all know that getting older means things begin to change! Below is an actual true story to lift you up on not only aging, but the power of memories God has placed in our hearts…enjoy!

An older gentleman walked into his first appointment with his new doctor who was fresh out of medical school. The two greeted one another and the doctor began asking the man about his health. He asked: “Are there any medications you’re currently taking?” and the man replied, “Yes, well um…I think it is a medication I’m taking for memory loss. But I can’t recall the name of it. Maybe you can help me, I think it’s kind of like a pretty flower?” The doctor thought of Daisies or Tulips. The man shook his head, saying “I think it starts with the letter R.” The doctor thought for a moment and said, “A Rose?” The man nodded and his face lit up. With a shout he said: “That’s it, OK let me call my wife.” Then he took out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and held it up to his ear. A moment later, he began talking to her and asked her: “Rose, honey, what’s the name of that medication I’m taking to help with my memory?”

Do you find yourself stopping and trying to remember a word you want to say but it just doesn’t come? That is so exasperating! For many, as we age, we quickly think that we are getting dementia or Alzheimer disease. But God is telling you “don’t jump to conclusions, seek me first.” Isaiah (46:9-10 Voice) had something to say about memories and it should encourage all of us, young to old, that God knows what we are going through:

“Remember the old days. For I am God; there is no other. I am God; there are no other gods like Me. From the beginning I declare how things will end; from times long past, I tell what is yet to be, saying: ‘My intentions will come to pass. I will make things happen as I determine they should’.”

Memory is a precious thing, isn’t it? Our memories shape the way we see ourselves, others, and the whole world around us. But most importantly, memories shape the way we see God. When was the last time you opened a book or photos of memories—like your high school or college yearbook? When I decided to write this devotion, I brought my senior yearbook off the shelf and laughed myself out-loud—even Moose, our LabraDane chimed in. I sat for a while reading hysterical notes from my friends and it reminded me that memories are something to be cherished and our memories are one more incredible gift from God!

In closing, I think it would be healthy to enjoy memories from the past because you may find out that your past has made your future in so many ways. In every moment each day to your decades, remember God’s faithfulness in times of distress and joy; God’s goodness and how God came through for you day after day after day. If you feel God seems far away, check your memory—that is what gives you the assurance God will continue to be faithful every day and always. AMEN.