Remembering...
I am going through my childhood memories today. No...not my own memories, those are fuzzy and indistinct at best, but the ones of my oldest daughter.
For you see, today she went off to college and that means the great seperation has begun.
This is not the first time that one of my children have depart the nest, but it seems to get harder with each one and not easier.
The problem of memory is that we selectively remember things. We like to remember the good things (duh!) and forget the bad. That doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, but some people do remember the bad, and never, ever, forget it and carry those alwful memories around like a stone around their neck.
"But call to memory the former days, in which (after you were illuminated) you endured a great fight of afflictions, indeed being exposed both by reproaches and afflictions, and while you became companions of those who lived so. For you both sympathized with my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise. For "yet a little while, and He who shall come will come and will not delay." Now, "the Just shall live by faith. But if he draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him."
(Hebrews 10:32-38)
There are memories to carry and cherish, and there are memories to forget. The writer of Hebrews reminds us to remember our struggles for Christ, to remember the agony that we have had to go through in our service to the Lord. Why? Because, there lies in the future for us "in Heaven a better and an enduring substance." That’s why.
When I think of my days with my daughter, I find myself wishfully yearning fo the days that we enjoyed. The hikes, camping trips, bike rides, movies, birthday parties, and the smiles and laughter.
What I don’t remember is dealing with the emotions of a young woman growing up, the late night illnesses, the stress of the fears all parents have that drives us to be overprotective of our young. I don’t remember getting up at three am to clean up the sudden return of last night’s supper.
Well, God wants us to remember all that. The hard work, the sweat, the fear, the pain. He wants us to remember so that we won’t yearn and wish to return to the "good old days" that we left behind. In other words, to remember that we work for Him and that we look forward to heaven.
We have a better and enduring substance there. We are not to look back over our shoulder, but to press onward to the prize that awaits us.
Until next time on My Front Porch.

 

Forgotten Forever?
Browsing through around the internet the other day, I came across an article about a family researching their roots. The article was about how they found out about a relative that fought in the Civil War, died in a southern prisoner of war camp and was buried somewhere in the distant past.
Through the years, the story about the relative stayed fairly consistent with the facts, but eventually, as is usually the case, the story got mangled, mixing fact and fiction and then the story died out from the family treasury.
The passing of a favorite grandmother produce the impetus to find the story of this forgotten soldier, and beginning with the military the records were set straight and a lost and forgotten relative was remembered again.
Is it irony or what as I drove to town to get some car parts that I slowed down and pulled over for a funeral procession moving to the local cemetery? As I sat there and watched the cars pass by, my mind went back to the Civil War soldier and how his life and story had gone missing for so many years, and of course, my mind went to my own state of being.
I doubt that there is no human since we were created that has wondered if they will be remembered once they depart this earth. Look at all the monuments man has made for those after him to remember. Pyramids, tombs, statues, buildings, cities, and for the common man, the small white tombstones that dot our hill sides in every town. The age old question, will I be remembered for what I have done? Or will everyone forget me?
While we may be appalled at the very idea of being forgotten, there is one thing to say about forgetfulness:
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)
"I will remember no more". That is very lovely to hear, that our sins will be forgotten, never thrown back in our faces, there will be no press report in Heaven’s Gazette proclaiming something we did. It will be forgotten.
And God also proclaims to us: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10)
Are you worried about being forgotten, then don’t worry, God will remember you, not your sins, but your work and labor of love, God will remember you because you are His.
I may not remember you ancient ancestors, maybe you don’t know about them either, but God will remember you and will forget your sins. Praise God!

You must remember this

A kiss is just a kiss

(As Time Goes By

Herman Hupfeld)

A kiss is just a kiss? Do you think so? What does a kiss signify?

Well... there is the social kiss, the peck on the cheek that really doesn’t mean anything (what’s wrong with a handshake?)

There is the slobbering kiss your dog gives you, slurp! Yuck!

There is the wonder kiss from your wife, tender and passionate!

The angelic kiss from your little ones...

Every kiss a horse on its nose? It is soft!

A kiss tells the one you love that you love them. Very much; enough to become tender with them, to open up and receive and give love...most of the time.

But a kiss can be deadly...

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. The man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them, and he came close to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

(Luke 22:47-48)

The signal to arrest Jesus, an intimate touch that betrayed Him. What more horrifying way to betray someone?

What was the result on Judas for his betraying kiss?

"I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What do we care? See to that yourself." Then he flung the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and went outside. Then he went away and hanged himself.

(Matthew 27:4-5)

When we scheme, we often produce some of the most vilest of schemes. We just take a simple kiss and turn it into an act of betrayal. An act of love, a signal to betray.

Judas could not handle to guilt and hanged himself.

A kiss is not just a kiss, so way no how. While the song by Hupfeld is good, it misses the point, a kiss tells a lot. It represents acceptance, love, tenderness and betrayal.

Make sure your kisses are not betraying but loving. Then you too can sing: "A kiss is just a kiss" .