Remember

I recently had a “I could kick myself” moment. Friday evening I worked late, and when I finally got back to my place to grab my stuff on my way out, I told myself, don’t forget to bring your yarn because you need to work on it this weekend to keep on schedule. The yarn lay innocently under my bed as I grabbed my clothes, my purse, some other necessities, and then promptly walked off with the very item I was so anxious to remember. Clearly the weariness of a full work week was taking its toll on my mental acuity. I was ten minutes out, past the bumpy gravel road, when my oversight hit me. I immediately turned around, and though I was glad to have remembered as soon as I did, I was not thrilled about retracing my path. Twenty minutes later, I was back on the road for my 45 minute commute.

I was annoyed with myself for being so forgetful and irrationally irritated with the inanimate object responsible for my delay. I have those times when I think, I should have known that or why didn’t I remember that? How often I forget God’s promises and what He has done in my life. I beat myself up a little when I think, God provided for me before. Why didn’t I remember that in this latest time of need? Or, if only I’d remembered His promise in this current situation! At least I’m not alone in this. The Israelites, who had more tangible signs from God, were constantly forgetting about His provision, protection, and deliverance.

Psalm 106:7a-8, 12-13, 21a “When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known… Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait on his counsel… They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.”

Forgetfulness leads to ungratefulness. I don’t want to be guilty of the same sin, so square #37 was a tribute of remembrance to God’s character, His past reliability, and His present promises.