Re-Membered
Pulling Forgotten Pieces Together
Introduction
The“R-series” of The Adventure of Reflection continues with a contemplation on the pain of being forgotten and the restorative power of remembering. Thank you for joining me as I ponder being re-membered by pulling forgotten pieces together.
Note about the image. This is me and grandson number three.
A Minute of Motivation
Finding Fault
“We carefully count others’ offenses against us, but we rarely consider what others may suffer because of us.” – T. ‘a Kempis.
It is so easy to find fault in others – we seem to be able to see it so clearly, while the “defective” individuals seem blind to their flaws.
What about how clearly everyone else can see your flaws, while you seem not to notice your imperfections? It has been said, “You spot it, you got it!” This means you see the faults in others that you also have in yourself. When we were kids we said, “Remember, when you point your finger at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you!”
Remember that when you see reason to criticize someone else, you probably deserve similar criticism. Instead of finding fault in others, look to correct the flaws in yourself.
Note. Originally published in 1992. Re-published here because of the reference to remembering. I have five additional Minute Motivators to re-publish in future newsletters. I’ll make them fit as best I can.
Enjoy Life More
Being Re-Membered
When my first grandson arrived I was blessed with being a part of his first two weeks. Staying was wonderful; leaving was terrible. Would he be able to remember me, his grandma, if I wasn’t a part of his world for long periods of time? My final farewell before I left was to lean in close to his little ear and whisper a series of sounds followed by “remember me, it’s Grandma.” Then, when we would be together again I would lean in close in the same way, repeating the same sounds and the same phrase. “Remember me? It’s Grandma.”
I didn’t want to be a forgotten grandma. Being separated by miles and months was hard enough. Being forgotten would have been unbearable. To be forgotten is painful. To be remembered brings great joy. Every visit, and every grandson, would have the same greeting and farewell from me. Over time, I sensed these little ones remembered me through this simple, predictable pattern. They remembered me!
Being forgotten is like having the pieces of oneself break apart. Being remembered is to be re-membered, to be made whole again, to be real and complete.
From one of my favorite sci-fi shows, Doctor Who, there’s a poignant story line about a young couple named Amy and Rory. In a cruel twist of timey-whimey fate, Rory is erased from time and memory. The doctor tries to help preserve Amy’s memory of Rory, hoping that, by remembering, she can bring Rory back. He says, “Keep him in your mind. Don’t forget him. If you forget him, you’ll lose him forever.” Tragically, Amy forgets she ever knew Rory, though she sometimes sheds a tear without knowing why. Fast-forward through a convoluted plot line and Amy eventually restores Rory by remembering him.
Re-membering brings back the fragments of another person. In the great entropy of life, we are each breaking into fragments and at risk of being forgotten completely. We can pull the ones we love back together by remembering them.
To enjoy life more, practice remembering the people important to you. Write a note. Send a text. Make a phone call. Think about them. Help pull the forgotten pieces together by the simple act of re-membering.
Faith Corner
“I always have memory of you in my mind and prayers.” (see 2 Timothy 1:3)
Two thousand years ago the apostle Paul wrote a couple of encouraging letters to his friend Timothy. In the second of those letters Paul began his letter by assuring Timothy of his constant remembrance and prayer for his friend. This verse is often translated as “I always remember you in my prayers” which sounds like an active effort to keep Timothy in mind. The original Greek however has a more enduring quality. Paul says he has remembrance of his friend. In today’s language Paul would probably say, “Timothy, you are on my mind constantly and I can’t stop praying for you.”
That’s what friends do for each other. When one has a burden the other one has it, too. And, for believers in Christ, those mental burdens compel prayer. In prayer, the burden of remembering the struggles of a friend is handed over to the Lord.
Dear Lord, thank You for providing people in my life who hold me in their hearts and minds. Thank You for giving me people whose burdens are a part of my thoughts and feelings. Help me to remember to bring those burdens to You. Thank You for carrying the burdens I hand over to You. Amen.
Note. If you want to do your own investigation of any of the scriptures I use, I suggest you go to Bible Gateway. This free online version of the Bible allows a search of words or phrases. Various translations can be selected from the old-time language of the King James version to the more modernized language of The Message.
Poetry Pause
Re-Member
Recalling
Extra-ordinary
Moments,
Envisioning
My
Beloved
Entirely
Restored
By Cindy MacGregor, September 14, 2023.
Note. Our times with someone consist mostly of ordinary moments. These ordinary moments become extra-ordinary in the power they have in our memory, and the capacity those moments have to pull our loved ones back together in our minds and hearts. To my readers who have recently lost someone through death, may re-membering the time you had together bring you comfort.
Old Mom to Young Mom
Remembering Shows Love
Parents offer a lot of advice to their children, some forgotten and some remembered. Children are given instructions about how to manage themselves, their possessions, their schedules, and their relationships. When children forget what their parents told them it is frustrating and disheartening for the parents. Remembering parental instructions, however, shows love and respect for the parents. The message of remembering and forgetting goes something like this:
“When what I told you matters to you, that also says I matter to you. Remembering what I told you shows you love me. Please remember what I told you.
Forgetting what I told you says I don’t matter to you. Forgetting what I told you shows a lack of love for me at that moment. That’s why remembering what I told you matters so much to me.”
Remembering shows love. When you remember something your parents told you, that shows your love for them.
As an old mom to young parents, teach your children to show they love you by remembering what you told them. Your words were given in love; remembering your words demonstrates love. Teach children to practice showing love by remembering.
Dear Dr. Mac
To Marian, I enjoyed reading about your chihuahua, whom you remembered because of the picture in Rescue. We have had several of these little dogs, all precious and no longer with us. We hold them in our hearts and memories.
To my readers:
You can find all my previous posts at ARCHIVE. You can find the first 64 issues in an organized compilation at Reflective Adventures: Volume One.
You can share your thoughts with me by leaving a comment (see box below) or you can emailing me at: Dear Dr. Mac. I love to hear from you!