It Is Easy To Forget

You may have heard the story about the elderly couple. One day the elderly woman said to her husband, “I really would love an ice cream sundae.” Her husband responded, “This time of the night? That would require me to get dressed and go out and pick it up.”

Nevertheless, she persisted. She stated that she would like chocolate ice cream and insisted that he write it down. He replied, “I will remember!“ She raised the volume of her voice, “Write it down!”

She further instructed him to not forget the whip cream, saying, once again, “write it down, write it down!“ Do what she replied, “I’ll remember!“

Again, she thought, “don’t forget those little nuts and candies on top!” She, once again raised her voice, “write it down, write it down!” His reply? “I’ll remember!”

Again, she thought, and instructed him to not forget the cherry on top. She stated, “That’s my favorite part of an ice cream sundae!” Again, she insisted, “Write it down, write it down!” Again, he replied, “I’ll remember!”

Out the door he went for ann  ice cream sundae.

It took a long time for him to return and when he did, he arrived and handed her a hamburger. Her reply? She said, “I told you to write it down! I wanted pickles on this burger.”

Memory is a strange thing. Whether you’re trying to remember a list of things you need to pick up at the grocery store or someone’s name. Sometimes memories fail.

The Bible tells us that God is faithful to his followers. Even the final words of Christ, or that of comfort, reminding them that he will return in again find that familiar passage that all of us have coded from time to time, “I will never leave you, nor for sake you“ it was written down in Joshua’s notebook that was again a reminder that God is faithful. (Deuteronomy 31)

You & I will forget. We can become distracted and focus on the wrong things from time to time.

Too often, I am pressed to remember details, and I am encouraged to write it down. And sometimes I have still forgotten. Yet, the good news is that God is gracious. His love endures forever for those who follow him, and ironically enough for those who require more grace.