"Mem'ries
Light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? Could we?
Mem'ries, may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember...
The way we were...
The way we were..."
Yes, you know I'm getting old when I quote a Barbara Streisand song from the 70's, but this morning it came flooding back to my mind and heart. I don't know why except that on Sunday Sally and I traveled back to Elberton to share in worship and renew old friendships and to celebrate some new ones. That for sure caused a lot of misty water-colored images to resurface.
Scripture over and over shares the power of memory. The Old Testament is a powerful word for all those who claim Jehovah to simply "remember". In fact memory is so important that we are called to "write it on our doorpost, foreheads..." and other spaces so as to never forget where we have come from.
Yes, some memories are too painful to remember, but to simply forget them would be to cheat ourselves of a heritage that has helped make us who we are today. So even in remembering them we can laugh at how silly we were back then.
But memories for memories sake can be a big waste of time. We remember so that we can move forward in confident faith. We remember so that we can build upon the past and create a present. We remember in order to help us build a future. If our memories keep us in the past, we will never become the woman or man that God has in mind and heart for us.
The way we were has helped shape the way we are, and the power of the Holy Spirit will help us become the way we are meant to be I believe.
Matthew was born while we were serving Elberton with Mac & Vicki Brantley. The loving family at Elberton First loved us and helped us a new parents. They took Matthew as their own. We moved after Matthew's first birthday and have only had a few occasions to return. Three years ago Matthew was hired as the Band Director of the Elbert County Middle School. He was greeted by a sweet loving friend who reminded him she changed his diapers ... that took the wind out of his sails for sure. But Matt (as he goes by now) has taken his heritage and made an inroad with my youth who are now his students parents and created a tremendous program of music at Elbert County High School where he is now the Band Director.
Memory informs the present, and God moves us into a bright and glorious future if we will remember to hold on to God's hand with all our faith and heart.
I remember ... I am living ... I'm peering into God's promised tomorrow.
Love ya'll
Dana.