So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. (2 Pet. 1:12)
GOD RICHLY BLESSES ME in many ways. Among my blessings is the ability to recall events that have impacted my life, and the people who were part of them. Although many of these influential people are either deceased or are no longer close by, I still remember their faces, the words they spoke to me, and the acts that impacted my life. If the memories are not good ones, I can forgive myself and others for hurtful words and actions. I remind myself that God is a loving and forgiving God. Love and understanding flow from forgiveness. Relationships and memories can be healed.
Most of my experiences, however, remind me that life is abundant and filled with joy. God’s Word, and my understanding of it, tells me that God walks with me through every episode of my life. He is always near, no matter the circumstance.
Yet I know that God has not given me this blessing of remembrance so that I can live in the past. Rather, I am reminded so that I can realize how truly blessed I am. Because I am blessed, I am called to bless those who seek the love, compassion, and tenderness of God. I listen to the Spirit of God within me, and my reminders help me to fill my world with God’s joyous wonder, peace, and love.
Pray that each day will bring fresh opportunities to create new memories.
Drexel Rankin is a retired ordained minister who served in Indiana, Alabama, and Kentucky. He and his wife, Patty, live in Louisville, Kentucky.
