{"id":3408,"date":"2013-02-06T08:06:54","date_gmt":"2013-02-06T13:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=3408"},"modified":"2013-02-06T08:06:54","modified_gmt":"2013-02-06T13:06:54","slug":"remember-a-christian-discipline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2013\/02\/remember-a-christian-discipline.html","title":{"rendered":"Remember–a Christian discipline"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"family<\/a>Remembering is a vital Christian discipline that is either ignored or taught in an off-handed, casual manner. \u00a0Most of us know that\u00a0routine thinking<\/em>\u00a0is defined by psychologists as remembering what happened in the past and rehearsing how we would change it if we could relive the event. \u00a0Perhaps that is the reason why Christians disregard the command of Jesus to \u201cdo this to remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why should such a common event as remembering become a Christian disciple? \u00a0But isn\u2019t God the redeemer of all things, especially those events and objects which we take for granted, find most common or deem less valuable.<\/p>\n

\"family<\/a>Our memories are an essential part of who we are. \u00a0Family events often mean sitting around the table rehearsing past joys and sorrows. \u00a0We laugh again and again at Uncle Billy\u2019s comment about Vero Beach. \u00a0We delight in\u00a0Tarah\u2019s antics telling about the ordeal of preparing for her husband\u2019s deployment to Afghanistan. We use our dinner napkins to wipe away the tears when our laugher turns to piercing loneliness as we joke about Mama\u2019s long, convoluted prayers that each year kept us from eating our Thanksgiving dinner until it was cold.<\/p>\n

We know that these are times of joyful sorrow that make our hearts grow with love and appreciation for each other. \u00a0 Yet, that experience is not often shared among the church family. \u00a0One of the highlights of my Christian life was when The Tabernacle Church of Melbourne hosted their 25th anniversary dinner. \u00a0It was a time of remembering and sharing the joys and hidden sorrows of a congregation that had grown into a family.<\/p>\n

I believe that communion was to be more than a ritualistic handing out of the cup and bread. \u00a0It was to be more than the sharing of the \u201chost.\u201d \u00a0 It was to be a time of true remembrance and celebration.<\/p>\n

\"community<\/a>Of course, there are times that our hearts are filled with the cares and concerns of our world. \u00a0 We approach communion with a need for more time, more energy and more resources. \u00a0We don\u2019t have the time, energy or resources to \u201crehearse\u201d that joyful night which ushered in the heart-bending sorrow of a crucified Savior.<\/p>\n

Working in the mentally challenged community for 24 years has taught me many lessons. \u00a0One is the value of remembering. \u00a0Saturday night, as I stood beside Keith\u2019s hospital bed with two of his caregiver, our conversation slowly ambled toward Chris, Grace, Tom and so many others. \u00a0Young people who were snatched from us too soon. Keith slept because his medical emergency was over. \u00a0Relieved that he would go home, we hugged each other with sweet memories and conversation of our loved ones who have gone to be the Lord.<\/p>\n

Perhaps turning these moments into a traditional ceremony will only take away the value. \u00a0Yet, it is apparent that the Lord wants to become a vital part of the joys and sorrows of remembering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Remembering is a vital Christian discipline that is either ignored or taught in an off-handed, casual manner. \u00a0Most of us know that\u00a0routine thinking\u00a0is defined by psychologists as remembering what happened in the past and rehearsing how we would change it if we could relive the event. \u00a0Perhaps that is the reason why Christians disregard the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8,4,41],"tags":[690,21,688,696,645,7,699,715,701,694,646,689,642,121,6,700],"class_list":["post-3408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-communition","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-lords-supper","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-remember-me","tag-remembering","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nRemember-a Christian discipline - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Remember-a Christian discipline - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Remembering is a vital Christian discipline that is either ignored or taught in an off-handed, casual manner. \u00a0Most of us know that\u00a0routine thinking\u00a0is defined by psychologists as remembering what happened in the past and rehearsing how we would change it if we could relive the event. \u00a0Perhaps that is the reason why Christians disregard the…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2013\/02\/remember-a-christian-discipline.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-02-06T13:06:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/family-celebration.jpg?w=219&h=147\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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