Forget to Remember

About a week ago, my grandchildren were over and I found myself using the term “forget to remember” in describing a situation that happened between them. When I picked them up from school, my granddaughter had fallen and injured one leg from knees to toes and tears filled her eyes as she described to me what had happened. As we approached her brother's class, I saw her demeanor change and realized as she called out his name, she wanted him to come and comfort her. I remember saying, “You want your brother don't you?” as she then began to cry out loud and tears streamed down her face. He came up the stairs and put his arms lovingly around his baby sister. I must tell you I cried some pretty large tears myself at this point. We've all felt that need to be comforted and seeing it take shape there before me tapped into my great need for the same.



A few hours later they became upset with each other as they were growing tired. One thing led to another and soon there was an argument and some finger pointing and more tears. Their mother and I tried to put it all to rest and they climbed into their car and drove away. A little later, I realized it might be important to let their mother know about the scene earlier in the afternoon. I knew she would be blessed to know how much love they had shown for each other and how their expression of love had touched my heart. I reminded her we all “forget to remember” the positive sometimes in light of the negative things that come into our lives.


As I was reading going through my Bible study today, I was pleasantly surprised to see the words “forget to remember” again. I thought this uncanny since I'd just used them a week ago. The picture of my grandson's arms about his sister immediately came to my mind and quite naturally led me to think of how much I need comfort when I've fallen and the sting of my fall leaves me feeling broken and needing His gentle touch of mercy.



He knows what we need even before we know we need it (Him).

After all, He is the omniscient, “all knowing God."

In Matthew 14, when the disciples were in the boat, out in the middle of the sea, with the storm approaching, Jesus was on the mountain top praying for them. He already knew the storm was gathering and began making His way to them. Should I be surprised that this passage has come my way 3 times this week? If I can remember His faithfulness and His promises and forget to remember the darkness and the danger, then instead of feeling Him to be distant, I will feel His closeness and comfort.



Recently, I found a beautiful card from my sister of the heart who lives in another city. The picture of Jesus leaning closely into a small blonde haired child, her hands clasped in prayer, says simply...”Before we even pray the words...”

“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

Our Savior's loving heart is never surprised by the trials we face. He was on His way to the disciples before the storm gathered. He wants us to recognize His Presence IS the impenetrable fortress when we are walking through tests and trials. He wants to step in and put His arms around us and bring the calm and peace in the midst of the storm.



There really is no security apart from Him. When things come to buffet our lives, we have a choice where to put our focus.



Today, no matter the trial or test, focus your eyes upon Him and remember His promises. He says He WILL answer, even before we call. He WILL hear even when we are still focusing on the issues at hand. If we will “forget to remember” the trial and get our eyes fixed on Him, He will walk with us in our trial, even walk over the deep waters and through the fire with us. His Presence will become our impenetrable fortress as we forget to remember the TRIAL and enter into the security of His promises.



Like my grandchildren “forgot to remember” their close embrace and the loving hearts they have for one another, we sometimes do the same in our trials. We forget to focus on His great and precious promises to us and instead get caught up in the painful, sometimes fearful circumstances of our trials and tests.


He is aware of our need for comfort and peace during these times. Allow your tears to fall, your voice to cry out your need for Him. He is already making His way to you now. His Presence will come and calm your stormy sea and you will “forget to remember” the tossing waves and turbulent winds. His Presence is your safe place.



“For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5)

His Children have a Refuge

Mother's Day approaches and as women our thoughts often turn to the female influences in our individual lives. No matter the positive and sometimes negative influence in our lives, I dare say each of us has some idea our mother's lives were also impacted by both blessing and calamity as it speaks of in the book of Genesis, soon after the words of God that were spoken to Eve after the fall of man.



“To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs of childbearing; with spasms of distress you will bring forth children. Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”



There have been many theological dissertations on the subject of the fall of man and the curses that fell on men and women. My appeal today is not to the mind today but to the heart of those who find themselves female in this world. For many, like Father's Day, we find ourselves searching the card rack for a card that holds just the right message in light of the internal messages we've found tattooed on our hearts through the experiences of our mothers and grandmothers. Who crafts these messages that never seem to hold ALL of the realities of the rear view mirror look at our own upbringing? Haven't we all had occasion to say “this doesn't even describe my mother.” Whether we find them praising too highly or lackluster in describing our own maternal influence, we often find them falling short.



As I thought of my own mother and grandmother today, my mind seemed to drift to other mothers who still fight similar battles of life. I thought of the mother who …



Finds she is lacking the resources to make her childrens' lives more comfortable

Weeps for the wayward son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter in the wee hours

Struggles to understand the genetic disease her small child is facing perhaps for life

Discovers her husband, child or grandchild has a hidden addiction

Receives the unwelcome knock on the door or call in the night no mother feels she can bear

Surrenders her will to God when all else has failed in making a difference

Processes the failure of her own child and grasps for the heart to forgive

Feels powerless to put an end to the bullying her child is experiencing at school

Hides her own addiction behind closed doors and hopes her children don't learn of her weakness

Works multiple jobs to try to make the ends meet

Waits for months for her son or daughter to be on American soil again

Watches their child make mistakes both like and unlike her own

“Weighs in” day in and day out to satisfy the demon of man's acceptance

Takes the punch, the snarl, the shaking

Wonders when she'll really feel she is enough to go around



As I thought of the women in my life both by birth and friendship, I have lived long enough to know we have all been affected by those words in Genesis. Relationships were marred and mothering at its best has been forever changed by our first parents. But, thankfully, we are not destined to remain without hope as mothers.



I like to think of Ruth Graham when motherhood comes to mind. Her writings in The Prodigal and Those Who Love Them had such a deep impact on my life when I was praying for and believing God for a miracle in my son's life. It seems the wife of Billy Graham experienced all the tumultuous emotions of every woman born on this planet. She took a look back at mothers from much earlier times and found some solace in the words written by other women who were experiencing the afflictions and facing the disappointments and discouragement that come with being the givers of life.



While there could be much said about the thoughts I've shared here and those provoked by your reading them, my one hope is that we all might take the following thought from Mrs. Graham to our hearts.

I THINK IT HARDER, LORD

I think it harder,

Lord, to cast

the cares of those I love

on You,

than to cast mine.

We, growing older,

learn at last

that You

are merciful

and true.

Not one time

have you failed me,

Lord__

why fear that You'll

fail mine?

As Mother's Day approaches I encourage you to think on His faithfulness to you and your generations past. Surely, there was a mixed bag for every woman we have known and yet we can trace His hand of goodness if we but make that choice.



Choices....we make good and bad choices as mothers. Our sins and that of our mothers and grandmothers has had an impact on the innocent. How then can we move into the days ahead with more assurance and hope in light of all the distress and despair we experience on our journey here?

Mrs. Graham, like her husband, never failed to point to God's precepts, His presence, His provision, His promises and His power. It's in His Word, we find the comfort, the hope, the forgiveness, the peace and the strength to continue on as mothers and grandmothers.



No matter what we are facing as a mother this Mother's Day, I pray we can all hold onto these thoughts.



“O,that there were such a heart in (mothers ..my insertion) that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!”


Deutoronomy 5:29






“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children have a place of refuge.”


Proverbs 14:26