Remembering the Important Things

“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”*

           

            When Al and I had our annual physical exams at the end of February, we asked the doctor if we could be given some kind of cognitive assessment in order to establish a baseline that might be used in detecting future symptoms of “cognitive impairment.” This test measures reasoning ability, skills in problem-solving, perception and verbal reasoning as well as memory—helpful at this stage in our lives!

The doctor said that usually someone who thought he/she was having symptoms of impaired cognitive abilities was referred to a specialist. However, she promised to find such a test and give us a call after a nurse had been trained in administering it.

After waiting for months to hear from her, Al finally contacted the office and left a message for the doctor. Shortly thereafter she contacted us, apologized profusely for forgetting all about it and said that she should take the cognitive test too!

Finally, the administrative assistant called to set up an appointment for us to come in and be evaluated. The day and time were marked down on our wall calendar and were also recorded on the cell phone’s calendar. But when the alarm on the cell sounded ten minutes before the appointment on the designated day, it caught us both off guard.

Neither of us had remembered it in spite of writing it down and talking about it ahead of time…not a good start for a test that measured memory!  Thank goodness we heard the alarm on the cell phone! It was a good thing the office wasn’t far away from home.

Al was called in first, leaving me sitting alone in the empty reception area feeling somewhat anxious.  I took off my mask and breathed deeply for a few minutes, trying to get as much oxygen to the brain as possible. The anxiety also melted away. Ah…that was better!

When it was my turn, the nurse seemed very sweet and non-threatening, alleviating any further anxiety. The test only took about ten minutes or less, consisting of memory questions like remembering three objects in order, then recalling the same three again a few minutes later; following a string of commands; giving specific personal information; and replicating the drawing of a couple of geometric figures. Al and I talked about it later while driving home. We both felt like it was a good thing for us to do.

We can all relate to forgetting appointments or wondering “Where did I put my keys?” or “Why did I come into the kitchen?” On the other hand, memories from fifty years ago or longer are clear, just like they happened yesterday. It’s perplexing!

            Thinking back to what God has done for us in the past is crucial in helping us get through hard times in the present and also in helping us face what lies ahead. One of Israel’s greatest leaders was Samuel, a prophet and judge who was used by God to deliver the people of Israel from the threat of surrounding nations.

Once when the people of Israel were surrounded by a Philistine army, Samuel directed them to cry out to God for help, confess their sins and offer sacrifices to the Lord. When they were humbled themselves before Him, God intervened on their behalf with an extraordinarily loud thunderstorm, sending the Philistine army into a panic.

It was a miraculous victory for the people of Israel, one that was remembered for generations to come by the large stone that Samuel set up near the site of the lop-sided battle. It was named “Ebenezer” or “stone of help,” an object lesson to remind the Israelites how the Lord delivered them when they cried to Him for help. (1 Samuel 7:12)

While we might not have a stone of remembrance, there are many things that help us remember God. Thinking on what He has done for us and on the great love Jesus has for us carries us through the hard times. Bad news? In trouble? Can’t sleep due to worry or fear? Remember Him!

We might forget little things, maybe big things too, but help us dear Lord to always trust in and remember You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*Psalm 63: 6-8 NIV

                                                 Momma blackbird & babies nesting in a hanging basket!