Remembering 2009

Last night, my husband and I had a minor argument. We were playing Scrabble, and I beat him two rounds in a row. “I’m suprised you beat me,” he said after we were finished. “Last time we played, I beat you by a pretty big margin.”

“When have we ever played Scrabble?” I asked. “I don’t remember that at all.”

His mood immediately soured. “You don’t remember? I planned a special date for you. You were complaining that we always did the same stuff on dates, so I asked a girl at work to give me some fun date ideas. She suggested playing Scrabble and making popcorn, so I brought it over. I thought it was really special. I can’t believe you don’t remember!”

I tried to appease him, but the fact remained. He was hurt that I didn’t remember his special effort to please me.

I am notorious for my poor memory. I keep a daily planner and have done so for years so that I can have a physical record to remind me of things I’ve done and things I have to do. There have been times when friends have asked me “How have you been lately?” and I have opened up my planner, scanned the last several weeks, and reminded myself of what I’ve done and how I’ve felt. I have the type of personality that focuses on the present and the future and often glosses over or forgets entirely past events.

This is why I love having past journal entries and written documents to look over. It’s important to remind myself of past events, so they don’t escape my mind altogether in a few weeks, months, or years.

While it’s important for me to remind myself of the past so I can honor my husband and other loved ones, it’s also important to remember the past so I build my faith in what God can do in my present and future.

Psalm 77 says:

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The psalmist writes about using his memories of the Lord’s past deeds to encourage himself that God will come through in his present difficult circumstances. It’s important to keep a record of the past so that we can look back on all the Lord has done and take heart that God has not abandoned us, even when we feel like He has.

Take a moment to look over these question prompts and record the answers on your computer or in a journal. If you feel comfortable, share some or all of the answers in a comment so you can encourage others.

How did God reveal His hand and presence in 2009?

What was your happiest moment?

What was your most defeated moment?

What do you wish you had done more of?

What do you wish you had done less of?

What was the greatest book you read?

What was the most meaningful film you watched?

What song reminds you of 2009?

Who was the most influential person you met?

What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

What were you most afraid of?

What were you most grateful for?