Isaiah 49:15 says that a mother might forget her child, but God cannot forget us. This is a great comfort to me, as I know how impossible it is for me to forget my children and grandchildren.
When my daughter Janelle was about 4 or 5, she was hanging out
in our bedroom while my husband and I were getting ready for the day. He and I were discussing various things, and
at one point, I said, “I just realized that I have no major projects planned
for the month of January.” In addition
to routine events on my calendar, I normally had something I planned to work on
each month, and it would be written at the top of the calendar page. As soon as I finished saying there was
nothing major planned, a sweet little voice said in a sad tone, “January 6th?” That was her birthday, and she apparently
feared I was forgetting it. In fact, it
was written in red on my calendar.
Although I never forgot any of my children’s birthdays, a
friend has shared with me, that the year he turned 13, no one in his family
remembered. No one said anything all
day, but he was sure it would be remembered at suppertime. He expected a cake and a present. But, there was no recognition of the special
day. After supper, he went to his room
and cried. How hurtful it must have been
to be forgotten by those closest to him.
This summer my youngest granddaughter (age 5) gave me a map
and guided me on a treasure hunt. She
had placed a snack-sized plastic bag filled with sparkly items in a special spot
for me to find. After I found the
treasure, she said, “I want you to put the map on the refrigerator, so you will
never forget me.”
Oh…my heart! How could
I ever forget you, you precious little doll!
Amazing that the God of the universe remembers each of us
individually. He knows the number of the
hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). That is something I don’t know about the people
I love!
I expect to spend a couple of days this week in a hurricane
shelter. God will know where I am. He has a plan for my life. He will not forget me.