Back in the day, I didn’t forget anything. I remembered dates and numbers. I didn’t need a calendar or lists to remember things. Of course, that was B.K. Before Kids and busy schedules.
These days, I forget things. I forget to thaw meat for dinner. I forget to take the library books back.
I forget to pick my kids up from school. Just ask them. They’ll tell you. I’ve forgotten more than once. I work at home and will get into a project and wham! It’s 10 minutes past time. Or twenty. And I get the call…”Mom, are you coming to get us?”
Whoops! I forgot. It really is easy to do. Can I get a witness? (Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s ever forgotten her kids.)
Sometimes I just have to remind yourself to remember.
When our babygirl was 3, she started having seizure activity. She started out every so often having petit mal seizures. Then they got more frequent. Then they escalated to grand mal. And she went on medicine.
The doctor told us the medicine wouldn’t stop them all together, but it would definitely slow down how often she had them. But, if she went two years seizure-free on the medicine, they would wean her off.
It was so scary. So scary to watch her have them. So scary to learn the damage they could cause. So scary. Period.
So we started her on the medicine, and began a journey of faith and prayer and trusting God to heal her.
We had to go back and get bloodwork done often and check in with the doctor. And each time we could report she was seizure-free. And he would caution us, “She’s doing great, but keep watch. She could have a seizure at any time.”
I can’t even begin to tell you the battle we fought in our minds. The thoughts we had to fight. The fears that seemed to always be there. Sometimes in the corner somewhere. Sometimes front and center.
God was so faithful. He led us through every single minute of every single day. I remember at one point that fear was so tangible and I couldn’t get away from it. No matter how much I prayed. No matter how much I read the Word. It was always there. Always.
But He led us through. Among other things, He led us to play worship music 24/7 on every floor of our house. And we did. And it helped to change that atmosphere.
And how wonderful it was at her 2-year visit to hear the doctor say we could start to wean her off the meds, even though he felt she would still need to stay on a low-dose permanently.
But here we are, over 7 years later, and she is completely off her medicine and she is still seizure-free.
I still praise God for that. Regularly. All the time. There is no expiration date for that.
And remembering that miracle sill brings me so much peace, especially when I’m going through another storm. Another trial.
It’s not just the miracle of how He healed my babygirl that I remember. I remember how He led us. How His peace would surround us. How He never left my side. Even when the fear was tangible, He was even more so.
I like to journal. I like to write things down. I write down scriptures that help me. Things He shows me about Himself. I write down things I pray for. And I write it down when He answers that prayer.
And I like to go back and read through those journals when I’m going through a trial. To remind myself to remember.
When the wind is blowing and our lives are being tossed back and forth like the sea, it’s so easy to get tunnel vision of our problem. To lose hope. To lose faith. To doubt.
I remember once I needed money for my tuition at Bible School. I had prayed and it wasn’t coming and it wasn’t coming and it wasn’t coming. And the deadline was quickly approaching.
And I was starting to doubt. To panic. “What am I gonna do?”
And He reminded me to remember. He led me to look around my apartment and just begin to thank Him for everything He had provided. So I did. And it was a lot. Almost everything, actually. Do you know what effect that had on me?
It reminded me of His faithfulness. He had answered prayer before. He had provided so abundantly before. And if He did it before, He would surely do it again. And it brought so much peace.
And He was faithful. The money came in just in time.
When we’re in the storm, it’s easy to forget. We need to remind ourselves to remember. To take a minute and just look around and thank Him for everything He’s provided.
Take a minute to remember how faithful He’s been and thank Him. And if you can’t think of one single thing, remember He’s creator. He parted the Red Sea. He caused the walls of Jericho to come down with a shout. He promoted Joseph from prison to the palace overnight.
Read through the gospels and read of the healings and miracles and signs and wonders that Jesus did. And know….He’ll do it for you too.
Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to remember, but when we do, peace always comes.