Romans 8:28

We visited with my family during Christmas. My nieces (ages 7 & 5)
were in school so I volunteered to drive them. One morning, on the way, the
youngest was commenting that she was bigger than her oldest. That was a sore
spot between them. The oldest said, "Do you remember that Daddy said if you
talked about that, you would get a spanking?" There was a quiet pause from
behind my seat and then a soft voice said, "I forgot about that."

How often do we forget the important things in life? It's not that
we forget; it's that we're so busy we don't stop to remember. We do show,
however, through our actions that we have forgotten. For example, when you
(and I) worry and fret, have we not forgotten that God loves us? Have we not
forgotten that God promises "all things work together for good to those who
love God" (Romans 8:28)?

When you snap at your wife or husband, have you not forgotten that
he/she loves you? When we get irritated at one another, have we not
forgotten that we are on the same side? When you get aggravated at your
children, have you not forgotten that they are children? And they love you?
I suspect the times when children willingly do something to irritate or
annoy their parents are few and far between. Generally, they have forgotten
their manners and do things unintentional. They forget too.

My 72-year-old dad likes to say that he has a good "forgetter". Like my
niece, I think we all have good "forgetters". But we ought to work harder at
remembering. We should remind ourselves daily of God's promises in Christ
and our love for one another - as family, friends, and fellow-Christians.
The "I love yous" do mean something. Don't forget it.

Paul Holland