Remembering is one of the things that we have tried to develop ever since we were children.
When I was growing up, my parents used to tell me, “Remember what we told you?” When I was in school, I heard my teacher telling me to remember to do my homework so I can get better grades. Or to remember what they taught me so that when I take the exams, I will be able to give the right answers.
Sometimes forgetting makes life easier, but we still need to remember a lot of things to cope with living.
The book of Deuteronomy is part of the sermon of Moses as the Hebrews prepared to cross the Jordan river and occupy the land that God promised to them. One of the things he told the Hebrews was, “Remember!”
And for many of us, it is a powerful moment as we remember things together.
Moses told the Hebrews, “Remember what you went through and what God has done for you. As you do it, you will remember who you are, and who brought you to this place. Then celebrate.”
In times when we faced challenges, we were given courage beyond what we could imagine. In times of achievements and accomplishments, those were the times of celebration. And as we do this remembering, we are reminded what God had done, and the promises God made that the One who was with us in the past will continue to be with us today and the days to come.
Dr. Wayne Dehoney, a Baptist pastor in Louisville, Kentucky, tells of a college freshman who attended his first dormitory prayer meeting. Rather unexpectedly, he was called upon to pray a sentence prayer. The young man had a slight speech defect which became pronounced when he was under pressure, and thus, he prayed: “Lord, make us more thinkful for all our blessings.”
This young man prayed a better prayer than he realized. Our English word “thank” stems from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “think”. And certainly, if we are more thinkful, we can be more thankful.
This brings us to the point of St. Paul in his letter to the Christians in Corinth. He said in verses 11 and 12, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
Thanksgiving is life’s most powerful incentive for sharing. The grateful heart is also the giving heart. God blesses us that we might become a blessing.
It is said that God’s love, like a well-ventilated room, must have both an entrance and an exit. The life of grace is a two-way street; we receive it only as we give it away.
Let me share with you the story of Douglas Maurer, a 15-year old of Creve Coeur, Missouri. He had a temperature ranging between 103 and 105 degrees, and he was suffering flu-like symptoms. His mother, Donna, took him to the emergency room where blood tests revealed one of the most agonizing things a parent can learn about a child: Douglas was diagnosed as having leukemia.
In the next 48 hours, Douglas endured blood transfusions, spinal and bone marrow tests, and chemotherapy. For five days, his mother stayed in his hospital room. The doctors told him that for the next three years, he would have to undergo chemotherapy. They told Douglas that he would go bald, and that his body would most likely bloat. Upon learning this, he went into deep depression.
On his first day in the hospital, he said to his mother, “I thought you get flowers when you’re in the hospital.”
One of his aunts called Brix Florist in St. Louis. His aunt wanted the sales clerk to be aware of the flower arrangement’s significance. “I want the planter to be especially attractive. It’s for my teenage nephew who has leukemia,” she told the clerk. “Oh,” said the salesclerk. “Let’s add some fresh-cut flowers to brighten it up.”
When the floral arrangement arrived, it was beautiful. Douglas opened the envelope and read the card from his aunt. Then he saw another card. The second card read: “Douglas, I took your order. I work at Brix Florist. I had leukemia when I was seven years old. I’m 22 years old now. My heart goes out to you. Sincerely, Laura Bradley.”
Douglas’ face lit up. His mother said, “For the first time since he had been in the hospital, he had gotten some inspiration. He had talked to so many doctors and nurses. But this one card, from the woman at the florist who had survived leukemia and was very thankful, was the thing that made him believe he might beat the disease.” Because of a thankful heart, Douglas was able to face life once again with courage.
A thankful heart is the one that shares. Thus, as we think, we remember, and upon remembering, we share our blessings. When we share our blessings, people around us can see the face of God.
There is this story of a boy about eight years old. He told his mother one day that he wanted to look for God. His mother prepared some sandwiches for him and two bottles of drink. He walked and walked until he came to a park. In the park, he saw a bench. On the bench sat an old woman feeding the pigeons. Since he was tired, he sat down on the bench. The old woman and the boy just sat there, not saying anything, just watching the pigeons.
A few minutes later, the boy was hungry so he got a sandwich and started eating. He looked at the old woman who smiled at him. It was a beautiful smile. The boy got another sandwich and offered it to the woman who accepted it and smiled. For the boy, it was the most beautiful smile. They ate in silence. Then the boy got a can of drink and offered it to the woman. Again the woman smiled, and the boy felt that it was so beautiful that he wanted to hug the woman.
But he just continued eating and drinking. Finally, about an hour later, the boy said to the woman he had to go home, for his mother might be looking for him. He started walking, but then he looked back and saw the smile of the woman again. He went back and gave the woman a hug.
When he arrived home, he was so silent that the mother asked what happened. The boy said, “Mother, I just met God at the park. And you know what, God is a lot older than you, and has the most beautiful smile.”
By then, the old woman had also left for home. When she arrived, her son was also surprised that she was just silent. When asked what happened at the park, she replied, “Son, I just met God at the park. And you know what, God is a lot younger than I thought.”
You know, we get glimpses of the face of God from ordinary people who are willing to share blessings with those around them. They are the ones who help when someone has difficulties in one’s study; they are there when someone needs another who would listen; they are there when one feels discouraged.
Whenever you touch the lives of others, and can make a difference in their lives, they can get a glimpse of the face of God. May this realization strengthen you in your journey in the coming days ahead.
