Forgetfulness

By: Maureen R. Danielsen

One day many, many years ago my youngest daughter asked: “Mommy, when you get senile, how are we going to know the difference?” Cute. Unfortunately, it was, and is, true.

You see, I’d never survive a day without Post-Its. They’re on my bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, the steering wheel, anywhere and everywhere I need to stick them so I won’t forget something I need to do. Names leave no indelible impression on me either. I once read that forgetting someone’s name was a clear indication of self-centeredness. Maybe. But I’d much rather think of it as benign absent-mindedness. You know, I’m so busy thinking big thoughts that it’s okay to forget something as mundane as paying the gas and light bill. Now, that was embarrassing. But the time I tried to introduce a couple of friends who I’d known for some twenty-plus years to a group of people--and just stood there with my mouth hanging open because I couldn’t remember their names--now, that was really embarrassing! Oh, yeah. My forgetfulness has been a rich source of laughter over the years.

But, you know, having a bad memory isn’t always that bad. I once had a very dear friend whose excellent memory did her more harm than good. She could not only remember everything she needed at the grocery store without a list, but she also had total recall of everything anyone ever said or did that offended her, which over time turned out to be a very long list indeed. She’d filled her memory bank with so many negative things that in the end there was no room left for forgiveness. Now she has new friends, a new family, a whole new life…but all without God. I pray for her often. She forgot too little, but didn’t remember enough.

You know, if I remember nothing else, I always make it my number one priority to have my daily devotional time with God because it's absolutely essential to maintaining a healthy Christian life. One time when I was still working as a court reporter, my husband found out the hard way that I had no intention of leaving home without it either!

We'd planned a long four-day weekend in Portland with our children. The morning we were to leave he found me sitting in the livingroom reading my Bible instead of getting dressed.

"Can't you do that later?" he said. "If we don't leave now, we'll hit all the commuter traffic in Seattle, and you know what that's like!"

He had every right to be upset. We'd agreed to leave at 6:00 AM, but because I'd had to put in many late hours in order to finish all my outstanding transcripts, I'd overslept.

“Okay,” I muttered, jotting down a verse in my journal. “Then I’ll do my devotions in the car.”

“What?” My husband doesn’t particularly like to drive, but I do, so I usually do the honors.

“Can’t you do that later?”

“No,” I replied firmly, “I can’t.”

“Oh, come on! Why not?”

"Because I’ll forget who I am; that’s why.”

My husband blinked a few times. “What are you talking about?”

"Well, if I don’t spend some time in the Bible before my day begins, I tend to forget that I’m a Christian, and I start acting like everyone else.”

Nobody had to remind him how dangerous that could be. I was still working my way through the throes of menopause.

“You know,” I said, “five hours is a long time. I don’t want to spend them saying and doing things that I’ll only have to apologize for later. Do you?”

My husband sighed and shook his head. “Take your time,” he said, “all the time you need.”

I did and we had a lovely trip.

You know, I may be famous for forgetting a lot of things, but, thank God, a daily devotional time isn’t one of them…because when all is said and done, it’s the things you choose to remember that will make or break your day…maybe even the rest of your life.

Just ask my old friend who forgot so little, but didn’t remember enough.

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Please Share and Bookmark this Article