WE FORGET




Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:22-23

My mother suffers from vascular dementia and lives in a memory care unit. It’s heartbreaking the way Mom asks the same questions over and over again. No matter how many times we answer, she forgets and asks again—often in the same conversation. She doesn’t remember where she lives, how longs she’s been there, why she had to move. She’s forgotten her history and the family stories that entertained us as we were growing up. Her last thirty years are completely wiped away. She only remembers scattered things from her more distant past.

Mom lives in a state of constant turmoil, forgetting what she needs to know, knowing that she’s missing something important. On a really bad day, she forgets even the questions and sits in agitated silence.

Dementia is more prevalent in our world where people live longer. In fact, the longer a person lives, the greater the chance he will develop some form of it. It’s at crisis stage—money needed to care for its victims is in short supply while demand only continues to grow.

While dementia cripples the mind and robs it of memories, there is another form of dementia that cripples our spirits. We hear a word from God and grasp it for a little while—but then it disappers, robbed by the enemy. We study the Bible and are thrilled with new insights— but then forget what we learned. We ask God the same questions over and over and though we may hear the answers, quickly lose them—sometimes even lose the questions. We don’t know who we are in Christ, don’t know why we are here, can’t figure out what we should be doing, are bound and paralyzed by confusion.

When Mom first started losing her memory, she kept extensive lists to help her remember. I found a little scrap of paper the other day while I was cleaning off her dresser that listed her name (gone the lovely penmanship she once took such pride in; instead looking like a grade schooler’s awkward script) and where she was born. Heart rending.

Maybe there’s a lesson for all of us to learn. When we feel the Lord speaking to us—even the most basic encouragement—we should write it down. Maybe today you felt God speaking to you, telling you that He loves you and that your difficult situation will work out. Write it down. Put a post it note on your fridge door saying “God loves you—it will all work out.” It doesn’t have to be fancy. Find a promise in the Scriptures that speaks to your need? Don’t let it go. Write it down. Memorize it. Put it on your bathroom mirror. Ask God to help you to remember the things He teaches you. Don’t give in or give up. Fight the battle against spiritual dementia. Ask God to quicken the words to your spirit forever, to imprint them on the very flesh of your heart.

Don’t let spiritual dementia rob you of God’s words. Don’t lose the spiritual ground you’ve gained. Write it down. Don’t forget.

Dear Lord, we have poor memories. Help us to remember the things you’ve done and the words you speak to us day by day. Amen.