Choose to Remember

“Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.” (2Ch 24:22 AV)

It is important to remember important things of the past.  This seems to be a pattern.  The generation that followed Joshua chose not to remember all God did for them in the wilderness.  When Joseph died, the next generation of Egyptians chose not to remember what Joseph did to save Egypt.  Now, Joash chose to forget all that Jehoiada the priest did for him.  He saved Joash’s life.  He guided him as the king who brought a revival to Judah.  He kept Joash from making foolish decisions as king.  Not that Jehoiada is dead, Joash chose not to remember.  This is not mere, “out of sight, out of mind” forgetfulness.  This is a deliberate choice to forget that which Jehoiada did and who he was.  When we chose not to remember, it is deliberate.

Recently, my mother passed away.  As part of the healing process, a facebook account was set up for her children to learn and remind one another of how blessed of a mother we were privileged to enjoy.  With eleven children, one can only imagine how much material is posted!  It is interesting what each remembers of our mother.  For me, it was her character.  She was a wonderful mother when it came to cooking, cleaning, and the holidays.  But more so than that, her character shown through time and time again.  She was our moral compass.  Mom didn’t allow her boys to grow up as sissies.  No clogs or bell-bottomed pants for her boys.  Buzz cuts all through school age.  No long hair like a girl.  She wouldn’t allow her boys to watch programs like Love Boat, Fantasy Island, or the latter years of Hee Haw.  Too much sexualization for her boys!  No generational clothing that glorified rebellion or worldliness.  Church every Sunday unless we ran a fever.  She taught us respect for one another even when we disagreed.  She did so by her example towards our father.  She taught us to put only as much on our plate as we can eat while leaving some for others.  She taught us manners at the table.  The list can go on and on.

The important thing is memory.  Remembering and taking steps to not forget.  Writing these lessons down.  Looking at pictures that remind us of people and principles of life.  Musing on the experiences a gracious God sent our way for the purpose of shaping who we are.  If we choose to forget the past, then we will repeat the same mistakes of the past.  Remembering is a choice.  Remembering is necessary.  Remembering is a blessing.