Wednesday, June 2, 2010

In Remembrance of....

Monday was Memorial Day. I explained to my six year old daughter what that meant. "Today is the day we remember the soldiers," I told her. "How can I remember them if I don't know them?" she asked.

From a six year old point of view, that is a very good question. How do we "remember" someone we don't know? For us, it was easy to resolve. I reminded her that her daddy was a soldier, and a veteran. She knew him. She excitedly replied, "That means my daddy is special to the earth!" That was good enough for a six year old. To tell her we are specifically remembering fallen soldiers would wait for a few more years.

"Do this in remembrance of me," Jesus told the disciples after breaking bread, and telling them its symbolism of his body being broken for them. He was reminding them that after he was resurrected to Heaven, that we should still break bread together, and should remember His sacrificial death so that we may have eternal life.

But do we remember? Part of the issue is just as my six year old stated. Some people don't really know Jesus. They are like Job who said about God "I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You." (42:5) They have heard of Jesus, but haven't quite seen him yet.

I know I have been guilty at times of taking communion without fully remembering the price of the sacrifice. Instead I eat a cracker and drink some juice while distracted by some meaningless thought.

Today let us work harder at seeing Jesus with our eyes. Let's focus as we take communion at church. Let's remember Him because we know Him. And like my six year old said, we remember and know He is "special to the earth."

Kelly

5 comments:

KrippledWarrior said...

Thank you for teaching me so many things. I'm still a work in progress.

My ADHD Me said...

This was wonderful!

Sharon Sloan said...

Kelly: I think as we remember our hearts are postured in humility and thanks....and awe.

Thank you.

Hugs,
Sharon

KelliGirl said...

There have been times when the remembering literally brought me to tears. What an amazing act of love Jesus did for us.

Edie said...

Good reminder Kelly.

I have recently been prompted to take communion here at home alone with God. It removes some of the distractions and routine that may occur at church and helps put the focus back in place.