Many who know me know that I often have a problem of remembering things. This has proved helpful and hurtful in my marriage with Derek. Helpful – it is difficult to hold grudges against Derek if I can’t remember the offense. Hurtful – if I forget important pieces of information or things important to Derek.
And while not minimizing the ways I have hurt Derek in my forgetfulness, there is a kind of forgetting that is infinitely more serious and hurtful – forgetting God.
This morning in my devotions, I read Psalm 78, and it recounts the many times and ways Israel sinned against God during their wilderness wanderings. It begins, though, by telling how to not be like them:
“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (v. 4).
“…Arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God” (v. 6-7)
But here is what Israel did…
“They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them” (v. 11).
“They did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power” (v. 22).
“…despite his wonders, they did not believe” (v. 32).
“They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe” (v. 42).
O, to remember! I don’t want to be like the Israelites in their forgetfulness, although I wonder how much I really am. How often do I tell about God’s glorious deed and might or recall his wonders and power? I am thankful for a merciful God who does not consume my for my short-term memory! And I am thankful for the tangible example I have in Derek, who shows me mercy on a daily basis amidst all my shortcomings.
Derek and Kristin Dearth 
Thanks for this post, friendato. I needed to be reminded of this today – to not forget what God has done. He is good and has done (and is doing) marvelous things! Mulungu atamandeke (oh, man, I'm forgetting my Nyanja!)!