Choosing what to remember

I attended a service where a First Nation leader was sharing his experiences about attending a residential school.

He said he had many bad memories about what happened to him in the school but he also had some good memories about being there. As he was explaining this he made what I thought was a very powerful statement, “I have bad memories and good memories, but I can choose which memories I want to remember.”

I believe his statement was the key to him finding freedom from the torment of his past.

November the 11th is the day when we as a nation will celebrate Remembrance Day. The violence and death of war seems so far removed from our land but that’s because tens of thousands of men and women from our nation went off to war to fight for our present day freedoms.

When I think about those that suffer from post traumatic stress, I understand that their bad memories have overwhelmed them. I pause to pray for them with hope that good memories will replace their bad ones.

How about you, what things do you choose to remember? Do you remember the good about people or the bad? Do you remember the good about growing up in your home or the bad? Do you remember the good about your family or the bad? Do you only remember the loss that happened in the battle or do you remember the victory that was won in the end?

Your memories have the power to give you a positive attitude about living or they can haunt you and drive you crazy.

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Some remember the wrong things and they end up with the wrong feelings. They don’t want the bad feelings but they can’t stop thinking about the wrong things. They are trusting in something or someone that has no power to help them. They keep rehearsing and nursing the bad memories, ‘I should have said this’ or ‘why did they do that to me.’

The Psalm said, “but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

By choosing the right thing or in this case the right one to remember, you have good memories that will flood your soul.

Psalm 143:5 “I remember the glorious miracles You did in days of long ago.”

What you choose to remember doesn’t change what happened to you years ago but what you choose to remember can change how you live now. Sometimes you have to stop thinking about bad things and remember what our native leader said, “I have bad memories and good memories but I can choose which memories I want to remember.”

On this Remembrance Day let us not forget the great price that was paid to bring us to great victory. Let us honour those who serve this nation and rejoice that their sacrifice was not in vain but we live in a land of peace.

Ask the Lord Jesus to help you with your memories. He also has paid a great price to bring to you abundant life. Find a good church to attend.

God bless our veterans and God bless you all.