Oh, the things one finds when sorting and packing for a big move! Last week I found the handwritten cry of my heart that I included in my blog. This week, I found another treasure! Reaching into an old bag, I pulled out a tattered and patched up pink bunny and a somewhat creepy brown koala. My stuffed animals! They have gone with me everywhere from my earliest memory until now, apparently. I had forgotten that they had made the cut during the last move. I paused and lovingly stroked their worn fur. The koala was so old his insides were hard. 

I ran upstairs immediately to show my sister who was assisting in the packing. We took a moment to touch, look and remember. In all my moves from Papua New Guinea to various states in the USA to Indonesia and back to the USA, these beloved ‘friends’ have not left me. I remembered the stability and constancy they gave  me. I remembered their companionship on nights when I was far from my mom and dad. I stood there and remembered. And to preserve the memory, I set my two ‘friends’ on the piano and took their photo. 

In his Word, God is constantly telling us to remember. 

• Remember the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8).
• Remember and obey all my commandments and be holy (Numbers 15:40).
• Remember the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 8:18).
• Remember that you were a slave…and the Lord your God redeemed you (Deuteronomy 15:15).
• Remember the past generations (Deuteronomy 32:7). Remember continually his covenantal decree (I Chronicles 16:15).
• Remember the works of the Lord (Psalm 71:11).
• Remember [others] in your prayers (Ephesians 1:16).
• Remember that formerly you were separate from Christ (Ephesians 2:12). 

So what was I to remember from my two beloved stuffed animals? God is my friend and constant companion now. He with me in this move. He goes with me to Texas. As he has been faithful in the past, he will be again and again.

 And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

Later that day, we took a load of stuff that didn’t make the cut in this move, to a thrift store. (No, I didn’t give away my stuffed animals.) The weather was rainy and yet sunny. You know what that means. Yes, on the way home, we were blessed with a particularly beautiful double rainbow! Remember! Isn’t it great that God also remembers! 

When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will notice it and remember the perpetual covenant between God and all living creatures. 

Genesis 9:16

He remembers his covenant (Psalm 105:8) and he doesn’t remember our sin (Hebrews 10:17). 

And you whom I have shepherded at my church, please also remember. I have been honored to teach and serve you for the past eleven years. Give back to your teacher (me!) by remembering, appreciating and following my teaching (Galatians 6:6). Please don’t let me say I’ve wasted my efforts on you (Galatians 4:11)! 

After the photo shoot, my rabbit and koala went into the trash bag. After all, I hadn’t looked at them since the last move. (They were pretty ratty and gross anyway.) Gone, not forgotten…remembered.