Remember

Remember - to recall, keep something necessary or advisable in mind (Concise Oxford English Dictionary).

The journey is long and hard, and the memory seems selective. You remember the mistakes, failures, more often than the joys, victories, and the past blessings. Blessings?! What past blessings? You continue on your journey looking for somewhere to run. Looking for somewhere to hide. You feel like the dark clouds would never leave. You close your eyes and they are still there. Yes, even in your mind. You continue on your journey looking for relief. Looking for help. You try to remember the better things. You try to remember the better times. You wonder if you had any such times. The mistakes, failures, doubts, fears encircle you. They are the first things you see. The first voice you hear. The first thought you think. The first memory that comes to mind. You continue on your journey looking for rest. Looking for an escape. The rain begins to fall ever so lightly. You see the lightning flash. Oh no, this can't be, you think. The breeze that was once gentle begins to pick up speed. Something runs down your face. It is wet. You think, rain. Nope. You realize it is your tears. You continue on your journey looking for peace. Looking for truth.

The journey is long and hard, and the memory seems selective. You remember the mistakes, failures, more often than the joys, victories, and the past blessings. You don't see the present blessings. What present blessings? You continue on your journey looking for friendship. Looking for intimacy. The valley is dull, dark, and dreary. There is an eerie feeling that surrounds you. It almost is suffocating. But you are still breathing. You continue on your journey looking for salvation. Looking for protection. The skies are turning blood red. The winds begin to howl. The lightning flashes and for a moment a flicker of hope. You hear the thunder in the distance. It grows louder as it approaches. It echoes all around you. You stop for a moment to consider your options but the worst comes to mind. You try to remember the better things. You try to remember the better times. You earnestly try to remember. But your memory is still selective. The current situation is dark, dull, dreary, stormy. You remember the mistakes, the failures, doubts, the fears. All add up. Yet, you continue on your journey looking for healing. Looking for restoration.

The journey is long and hard, and the memory seems selective. You remember the mistakes, failures, more often than the joys, victories, and past blessings. You don't see the present blessings. What past and present blessings? You continue on your journey looking for hope. Looking for just one glimpse of hope. And it comes in a reminder. It comes in spite of the memory's selectiveness. It pushes its way past the mistakes, failure, doubts, fears. It breaks through the dull, dreary, dark, stormy situation. You remember! Yes, you remember. A promise. A faithfulness. A truth. An assurance. Ah yes, you remember. "I will never leave you nor forsake you!"

You continue on your journey, but now you have that reminder. The situation around you has not changed. The mistakes, the failures are still there. But, you are beginning to remember the promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." A hope is rising. With each step you sense: A Lover has been and is ever present. You sense: A Savior by your side. You realize you were only able to continue because He was with you. Because He was your Strength. Because He was your Rest. Because He was your Protection. Because He was your Healer. Because He was and is the Source of all your blessings. His blessings are not dependent on your memory or ability to see. But He calls you to remember. He helps you to remember. He opens your eyes. And you remember.