Moments – Devotion 118

Isn’t it interesting the things we remember?  I remember what someone drove 20 years ago because it was special to see them drive up in the driveway.  I remember the food that we had at Christmas when I was a child – the specific smells of the goodies in the back room that were kept cool.  I can remember the cabin we stayed at just once as a child on a vacation to the mountains.  I actually remember more about my Dad’s graduation than I do my own.  We graduated from the same college just a year apart with our Bachelor’s degrees.  It is funny the moments, the smells, the tastes we remember.  And then I struggle to tell you what I ate yesterday or to remember what is on my calendar for this afternoon.

I am no scientist, but it seems to me that our brains hold on to those important senses – sights, smells, tastes, moments – that impact us in seemingly small ways.  These are moments we would not have purposely committed to memory, but they are embedded.  They are there waiting to be awakened as we smell a cookie baking or we hear laughter or we see a particular model of a car.  And we often find ourselves smiling just because.

What moments are we making now?  We can spend so much of our lives doing things we think matter so much only to later realize they weren’t all that important.  We won’t remember the extra hours doing things which ultimately brought no joy.  We won’t care about the extra dollars we made instead of the extra time we spent.  We won’t think about the things which we consider so important today but are forgotten tomorrow.  So maybe we make memories that count.  Maybe we focus on the small, valuable times spent with loved ones.  Maybe we take a moment and evaluate how we are making memories now.  It just might shift our focus a bit.

Focus Scripture:

Philippians 4:4-8

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery