When you get to be of a certain age, it becomes troubling when you forget things. Now I know my two kids, both young adults now, will gladly remind me that I have done spacey things for a long, long time – like losing keys and misplacing my phone. In return, I remind them that I distinctly REMEMBER being able to REMEMBER stuff before having children. But, when we are done playing the blame game, I still miss things that are important, for example remembering to turn off the sprinklers. Sure, the obvious lesson here is to set a timer on my phone to decrease the likelihood of leaving a ginormous mudslide in the garden, but lately I have asked myself—what is God teaching me through my forgetfulness? Why do I miss the important things?
Far too often, I zip through my day thinking of the next task. Most of my life I have raced towards another destination. When I was a kid, I was in a giant hurry for Christmas, my birthday, or summer break. As a young adult, I counted the days, hours, and minutes till I could finally graduate college. As a working adult, I looked forward to finally going on vacation. Always looking forward, I was rarely completely present. And in doing that, I wasted the opportunities that were right in front of me.
The Bible addresses how to walk with God and be present in the moment in Micah 6:8.
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God.
As a Christian, we commit to doing things God’s way. We choose to walk humbly with God as Christ has shown us. According to the prophet Micah, we are required to:
- Do justly. That means doing things that are honest and right even if they are not convenient or favorable to us. We reflect the character of God in our actions. For example, I find it easy to be generous and kind to my own kids. Do I treat other kids the same way? Do I cheer their successes and encourage them in their struggles? Do I strive to be equitable and just, or do I just seek advantage because that’s the way the world works? Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”
- Love mercy. Mercy is not something we deserve. It’s a goodness or a kindness we have not earned. This verse encourages us to love Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” When it comes to loving mercy, I want to look for, and not miss, the chances God gives me even if it requires being brave and stepping out of my comfort zone. When my dad died, our family physician, Dr. Logan, mailed a card. He expressed sympathy for our loss and his belief that my dad was now in with God and the angels. This simple message was meaningful to my family and a kindness went far beyond his job description. People hope for good medical care from a doctor, and this man was a compassionate physician. No one expects a doctor to take time to write his condolences, but he cared that our family was grieving. My dad has been gone almost 28 years now, and I still remember this gesture. I don’t remember the names of any of the specialists who made great efforts to extend my dad’s life, but I do remember Dr. Logan who took a minute to write an encouraging note. You never know what a kindness will mean to someone.
- Walk humbly with God. It’s not what I want to do in a day, but what He has determined for me according to purpose. I was created for a relationship with my Creator and that relationship is the most important thing in my life. Out of that relationship comes all the other relationships. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Do I talk to Him and ask for his guidance? Do I love what God loves and hate what He hates? Do I still the internal voices that say no one really wants to hear about God or that someone might be offended if I offer to pray for them?
When I am forgetful and not really listening, I tell myself that I don’t really know what to do. But this verse in Micah tells us otherwise. God has in fact shown us how to live, there are no excuses. I asked what God is showing me when I forget things. It’s not the obvious, that I am getting OLD. God already knows I have wrinkles, sunspots, and creaky joints. Instead, He reminds me not to race ahead, but to walk humbly with Him. He admonishes me to take my thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 15:5) and to remember Him. Our destination is with Him. And, if we are open to it, by seeking His will daily, our journey can be with Him also.
— Written by Jill
Meet the authors.
Listen to us discuss our blogs on our YouTube channel.
