“Back up,” I say once again starting to raise my voice. Honestly, next to I love you, those 2 words have to be the most quoted words in our home. Our kids as soon as they turn the tv on are glued right up to it. It is like a competition of who can be closest. Followed by Lindsey going, “Eli, what am I about to say?” With a shrug of the shoulders and the slow backwards walk he remarks, “I Forgot.” No kidding this has to happen around 10 times a day with all 4 of our kids. I can’t just pick on one of them for this story. It is now at the point that we have downloaded an app onto our phones to act as a remote. Without even saying a word after the third time telling them we just turn it off and take television away for a half hour. Every so often we will get some kickback which then turns into, “what are we going to have to do to make you remember” or “How many times must I tell you?” To give you a glimpse into SIlas personality usually within 5 minutes will come over showing some remorse, looking up at me, saying, “I don’t know why, I just can’t remember Dad, I just forget.” Maybe it isn’t TV that is an issue in your home, but how about brushing their teeth or feeding the pets. To all parents out there, you are not alone in having forgetful kids. The truth is even as adults we forget things way more than we’d like to admit.
In writing this I have been completely convicted. It is almost as if as I was writing God was showing me in real time how much I forget. Linds gave me a list of 3 things to pick up at Walmart, even asking if I needed her to write it down. Nope I think I got it babe, only 3 things. Milk, Turkey Breast, toothpaste. So here I am, start talking to someone of course, and totally forget the toothpaste. After about 20 minutes of wandering and trying to remember I break down and call her, “Honey, what was it again?” Then later that week we are at church listening to the announcements, thinking about certain things we should join in. You think by the end of service I had any memory left of what it was, not a chance. (Now get off my case, you know we all forget announcements at church). See what I am saying though, we are all forgetful people.
I bring all that up because I used to look at the story of the Israelites when God gave them the 10 commandments and wonder how they could be so dumb. Literally these are the people who witnessed God part the Red Sea, send the plagues, provide quail and manna daily, lead them by a pillar of fire, and the list goes on. Of all people you would think they would be grounded in their faith. Now Moses comes off the mountain, declares the commandments, and they reply, “Whatever you say Lord we will do.” Seems pretty straightforward until Moses goes back up the mountain. How quickly the people forget, they couldn’t even remember command 1, “No other Gods before me.” Instead they went to Aaron and asked him to create for them a god. “WHAAAAAT?” How quickly they forget!
It becomes a theme throughout all of Scripture and humankind even to this day. God moves, works, does miracles, answers prayers, and yet how quickly we forget. When things aren’t going our way, we question if He is there. When His answers aren’t coming fast enough to our prayers, we wonder if He hears us. When we have a few rough days at work or look in the mirror too long we question if He still loves us, and I could go on and on.
I would challenge you today, take a moment, and write down all that God has done for you. Post it somewhere in your home as a reminder, like tying a string around your finger. Remembering things, the ways that God has moved is something that is taught throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament Joshua taught the people to set up monuments, David would write songs, while others would share them by word of mouth. In the New Testament beyond those 3 things Jesus teaches us that in taking communion we are remembering His death, burial and resurrection leading to us having life. Retrain your mind to remember and celebrate all that God has done for you and who He is in your life.