“These things I remember as I pour out my soul.” 

(Psalm 42:4 NRSV)

One night my mother came to tuck me in. For most this constitutes a casual occurrence in childhood. But it stands out as a momentous moment for me. My mother had MS and the effort to get up the flight of stairs just to tuck me in was overwhelming and draining. But this one night she was there, tall and beautiful, and smiling. Before she left, in my darkened room, we looked across the field where our new house was being built and, together, we shared dreams of what life would be like within its walls, and we said the same prayers I’d said for a thousand nights, and she was gone, but that magical moment remained with me, and remains with me years later, for in that captured moment I still recognize the woman who is my mother forever.

And you, too, have tucked away your magical moments, precious memories, and maybe you have no idea on earth why they are magical, but they are, for you, moments of recognition, moments of revelation, and you, too, praise God for them as I praise God for mine. Let the magical moments keep you throughout this day and hold you when life seems hard. As the Psalmist counsels: “These things I remember as I pour out my soul.” (Psalm 42:4 NRSV)

Let us pray: Source of all mercy and memory: Make holy the memories that remind us of your constant love and help us to bring to mind precious people in our lives. We thank you for the privilege of prayer and praise as we live this day in your love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Kenn Stright