God's goodness and love provide powerful comfort
Bruce Macek | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 8 months AGO
Sometime ago at one of our family gatherings my sister Diane sat our mom down at her kitchen table in order to begin the meal.
Diane was explaining to mom, who by now has dementia, that the table was her mom’s. As mom sat and listened to Dee she began to move her hands over the table as if she was pulling up the memories she had of her own family gatherings around this same table.
As I sat and watched, it wasn’t long before I noticed tears rolling down mom’s cheeks. I can only imagine the flood of memories going through her mind as she ran her aged hands over the top of that table. She, like all of us, had a very memorable and full life.
I got to see firsthand the power that memories have to move us emotionally and physically. Even with the obstacle of dementia mom’s memories could not be contained.
Imagine the times and places in our own lives even the sights, sounds and smells that draw out from us the memories we have of God’s presence in our own lives.
Remember where we were without Him and where we are now with Him and because of Him. The hopelessness of distance contrasted with the confidence and trust of being near Him. Remember His bigness as we contemplate in awe just how many stars are out there and that He’s named them all.Can we not place our trust in One who set all this motion?
Remember His faithfulness to us as parents being on the other the side of raising kids. There is hope at the end of the changing of all those dirty diapers tunnel. We’re parents for a lifetime.
Remember Him also in His providing for us a place of security and comfort both now and in eternity.
More than one prophet or psalmist wrote about remembering the goodness of God and the power those memories have to move us to change, to put us in a place of comfort or security.
The prophet Jeremiah had every reason to cut and run (Lamnetations 3) yet the power of his memories of God’s goodness and love moved him to remain steadfast in his trust in God. May we be found being and doing the same.
Bruce Macek is pastor at Newman Community Bible Church, 9230 Sagle Road, Sagle.
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