Memories. Some of my memories are vivid. Some are vague and then, some don’t even exist.

For instance, my family tells the tale of a trip we took to the Great Smoky Mountains. It involves a picnic lunch of hot dogs, a bear eating said hot dogs and our family sitting in our green station wagon watching said bear eat our hot dogs. I don’t remember a single portion of this event. My family continues to tell me that I was there.

Then I have a vivid memory of having seen the Aurora Borealis. So since my memory couldn’t recall a bear chasing our family, I doubted that I had indeed seen the Northern Lights. One sibling said she has never seen them, while another said that he had. My Dad confirmed however, that yes, we saw the Northern Lights on more than one occasion.

It is amazing how within the same family memories of an event don’t quite line up. Why? Perspective. Attitude. Impact.Not paying attention. I really don’t know how or why, but it happens.

So I suspect that as the disciples gathered after Jesus’ death, some of their memories didn’t line up. I wonder if they tried to recall Jesus’ teaching. I wonder if sometimes their recollection of Jesus’ words didn’t quite match another’s.

I do suspect they tried to recall Jesus’ words about His death. Perhaps they had some aha moments in those few days from Jesus’ death to His resurrection. At least I believe they did. And I really wonder if one of them mentioned the portion of Jesus’ teaching from John 2:19 (NIV)? “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

While this reference could be a vague memory, what about Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV)? “We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Oh how I want to believe they remembered these words. How comforting it would have been for them if they had.

However, if they are like most of us, their memories raced to the times when they were not in line with Jesus’ teaching. Perhaps the moment they tried to shoo the little children away from Jesus. Or when they fell asleep instead of praying. Or the moment one of them betrayed the Son of God.

It’s kind of natural for us to lean toward the memories of failure instead of grace when we are at our lowest point. But if you know anything about Jesus at all, you know that He is the redeemer of our past failures. We no longer need to recall those times. Our memories should be filled with the love, comfort and salvation that we have received through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today, don’t allow your memory to be filled with your past. Look to your present and future. Let’s hold tightly to the Apostle Paul’s words. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 – NIV)

Now, isn’t that a wonderful thing to remember?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna