Memory

One of the signs of old age is memory lapses.  Sometimes we forget where we put our things.  At one time, I misplaced my key pouch, containing my house keys.   We are also creatures of habit and usually like to put things in a usual place.  So when I tried to retrieve my key pouch from the side pocket of my car door (where I usually put it), I found it wasn't there; instead I found a packet of sweets.  I thought I left my key pouch at home and went up to my flat to search for it. But it wasn't at home either.  Of course at this point in time, I was scratching my head (or memory) to ascertain where my key pouch could have gone.  Could I have dropped it somewhere?  I breathed a prayer to God.  I went back to my car to have a closer look and did some searching.  I opened up the glove compartment, lo and behold it was there!   At that point, my memory came back to piece the jigsaw.  I remembered earlier I took a sweet from the glove compartment and somehow by mistake I left the key pouch in the compartment and the sweet in the side pocket.

Such memory lapses are not as bad as those that progresses towards total memory loss leading to Alzheimer's disease or those related to dementia.  People will forget events and not recognise themselves or those that they love.  I remember an elderly brother in church who often asked me to pray for his memory as he fears losing it.  One way to keep our grey matter (and memory) working in our old age is to do things that would engage our mind such as reading, playing mahjong, doing crosswor puzzles, having a conversation with people, etc.  Not forgetting to eat healthily and have regular exercise to keep the blood circulating in our brain.    It is certainly not an easy thing to take care of a person who is suffering from dementia; it would take a toll on the care-givers.  So we can do our loved ones a great favour by taking care of our own physical and mental health. 

Our memory is at its best when we are young.  That's why it's important to teach our children (whether knowledge, skills, values or attitudes) when they are still below the age of 10.  The Bible instructs us, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'" (Eccl 12:1).  Troubles will definitely come in life and if our children do not have anchors for their souls, they would be tossed about in a sea of distress and confusion.   As such, in the foundational years of our children, they should be brought up in the fear and instruction of the Lord through age-appropriate, fun activities that direct their thoughts and meditation toward God.  We used to have regular family time when our children we much younger comprising of 4 components: Worship, Bible reading, Prayer and Games.  Because there were four of us, we rotate about taking charge of each component.  The Games component was the one that the children enjoyed the most as they had lots of fun.

This is holy week and we remember our Lord's death on the cross through the sacrament of holy communion which Jesus instituted.  God knows that we are frail humans who forget His goodness and grace easily; that's why the emblems (bread and wine) are there to remind us.  The children of Israel celebrated the Passover to remind their descendants of God's deliverance from death and slavery. An act by our Lord which is not often enacted by the Protestant church is the washing of the disciples feet.  Through this act, Jesus wants His church to demonstrate humility in service, just as He came to serve and not to be served.  While we remember God and His works, God also remembers us!  One of the dying thieves on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when He comes in His kingdom (Lk 23:42).  Jesus promised that he would be with Him in paradise that very same day.  We are also told that a book of remembrance will be written for those who fear and serve the Lord (Mal 3:16-18), and the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). What a comforting thought!    Should the time come when our memory fails us, we know that the Lord would not fail to remember us.