#remember #waterwalkinggirls
Remember: have in or be able to bring to one’s mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past)
Today let’s spend some time remembering.

Four weeks ago my anxiety was building as we were beginning the busiest season for my family…baseball season. Most of you know that my son Preston is a passionate baseball player who now has the privilege of playing on the high school baseball team. If you have had a baseball player in your family then you likely know that while he is the one playing, the sport involves our entire family. While he is on the field the rest of our family is on the opposite side of the fence making our own memories. We have bonded with several other baseball families so much so that we consider them our family. I fondly call them my tribe. We were all excited about this ball season as we felt this team had much potential. Yet with the season comes some anxiety as I have to take great lengths to plan ahead for our schedule to be sure everyone is where they need to be at the right time. Now that all of that has come to a halt due to the global Covid-19 pandemic I have had time to ponder, think, and remember what I was feeling and what could have been. The stay at home orders have forced all of us to slow down and in some ways completely stop. Four weeks ago that felt like such a devastating blow and in some ways it still does when I think about all the losses and what ifs. However the forced halt has also given me much time to examine priorities and refocus. All of us have been forced to find new and creative ways to connect with one another. We have stepped out of our comfort zones and tried new things. More people are walking and riding bikes through their neighborhoods, working in yards, and sitting on porches. So much has changed for all of us in just four weeks.

This week is Holy Week. Our week began with much enthusiasm on Palm Sunday. The people of Jesus’ time were excited because they felt Jesus had much potential as their future King. I am sure there was also some feelings of anxiety about how and when Jesus would rule as they expected Him to. Yet just 4 short days later was the Last Supper when Jesus washed His disciples’, announced that one of them would betray Him, and predicted Peter’s denial of Him. On that very night Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested and Peter denied Him 3 times before the rooster crowed the next morning. It had only been 4 days since Palm Sunday and so much had changed.

Today is Good Friday. Today is the day that Jesus was mocked, beaten and crucified. Today is a hard day, a sad day. Yet it is this day that Jesus became our Savior. Without this day we wouldn’t have Easter. Without this day we would not have eternal life. This is a difficult day. But without it you and I may not have been Christians today and because of that it is important for us to spend time today reading about and remembering that first Good Friday. Today read Matthew 27.

This Good Friday and this Easter will be different from all those we have had before as we will not be able to join together for worship and celebration. However it is perhaps more important than ever that we celebrate. Today remember what traditions you have had over the years for this season. Be creative in finding something you can do with your family to honor that tradition. For me, Easter is the one time of year that my family knows we will be taking a family picture. So a week ago I told them that we will get dressed up and take a family picture on Easter Sunday. Since we cannot go to our church we will have our own devotion time and I have asked each family member to bring something to share in our worship time. It could be a scripture or song or simply something to say. I am sure this will be very different than our usual Easter celebrations but it will be special.

Just as I pray we all remember the first Good Friday and the days leading up to Easter I pray we all remember the current Good Friday when we have some distance on it. I pray that when we all get back to some normalcy we never forget the time we were forced to slow down and refocus. I pray we will remember when we spent time walking, riding bikes and sitting on porches. I encourage you to find some way or something that will be a reminder to you of this time. A couple weeks ago Clark and Briley helped me put together a 1000 piece puzzle. After it had taken us several days to work on it I hated to take it apart so I glued it together and plan to frame it as a reminder of this time at home. What can you use as a symbol of this time? How has your focus changed in just 4 weeks? What will you do today to remember the first Good Friday? I am including a song for you to prayerfully listen to, focus on remember and be encouraged. Remember: “If death fell before You and it’s still on its face, then the power that raised You is about to move again. Oh my soul, remember who you’re talking to. The only One who death bows to that’s the God who walks with you. And oh my soul You know that if He did it then then he can do it all again. His power can still raise the dead. Don’t tell me that He’s finished yet.”

Remember by: Bryan and Katie Torwalt