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Memories

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. A day when the country remembers the sacrifice of our servicemen and servicewomen. The president makes a big speech and lays a wreath on the grave of the unknown soldier. And all over the country, parades and services were held in honour of our veterans. Thank God for them and may God continue to bless those who currently serve this nation.

Of course, as most things do, it got me thinking about the idea of taking time out to remember. I thought about the children of Israel and how they would build monuments to remember the things that God brought them through.

Sometimes, we like to forget the past. Especially the difficulties of the past because it is easier not to dwell on the negative. I know that for me, I find it much easier to remember the good times because the bad times in the past can still awaken feelings that are better left dormant.

But those bad memories have a positive spin. They remind us of what God has done for us, of how He brought us over, out or through. There is a line from a song called "Through It All" that goes something like this: And if I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that God could solve them and I wouldn't know what faith in God can do."

That's what our memories are for. Not to make us feel bad or depress us about past wrong actions, but to remind us that God's love and forgiveness covers a multitude of sins. Memories of times of want ought to make us rejoice over the divine provision from the hand of God. Memories of past illness should make us praise our Healer all the more.

Whenever we go through something that we would love to forget, we ought to make it a point to remember it. And remember it fondly. As a matter-of-fact, we should name all those negative memories Ebenezer because hitherto hath the Lord brought us.

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