I love the old story about a group of 30-year-old friends who had a reunion. It seems that…
They were discussing where they should go for dinner. Somebody suggested that they meet at the Glowing Embers Restaurant because the waiters and waitresses there are young and beautiful. They all agreed.
Fifteen years later, at 45 years of age, they met and discussed again where they should have dinner. Somebody suggested the Glowing Embers because the food and wine selection there are very good. They all agreed.
Another 15 years later at 60 years of age, they once again discussed where to meet. Somebody suggested the Glowing Embers because you can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free. They all agreed.
Another fifteen years later, at the age of 75, the group discussed again where they should meet. Somebody suggested that they should meet at the Glowing Embers because the restaurant is physically accessible and they even have an elevator. They all agreed.
Finally, 15 years later at the age of 90, the same group of friends discussed one more time where they should meet for dinner. Somebody suggested that they should meet at the Glowing Embers because they had never been there before. And they all agreed.
Who among us cannot relate to this?! It is all too easy to find ourselves forgetting things. Most of us know what it is like to walk into a room and then to have to stop and think about why we went in there in the first place.
I am personally discovering that the older I get, the more often this sort of thing happens. Perhaps you are as well. For, as we age, we tend to find ourselves forgetting many things...
What day of the week it is. What all we wanted to pick up at the grocery store on the way home. A bill that needed to be paid. A loved one’s birthday. (And a great many more things that I just cannot seem to recall right now!)
Of course, some things are okay to forget. A former boyfriend or girlfriend (as the case may be). A bad experience. A rejection letter. A hurtful comment. Etc…
But other things should never be forgotten. A kind deed. A hand up. An encouraging affirmation. A word fitly spoken.
And, of course, one other thing should never be forgotten. I’m talking about the goodness of God! This should never be forgotten. The Psalmist said it best (Psalm 103:1-2): “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits…”
He then proceeds to enumerate these benefits (in verses 3-5) from the God Who:
“forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” and Who
“redeems your life from the pit…” and Who
“crowns you with love and compassion…” and Who
“satisfies your desires with good things…” and Who does this…
“so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Yes, my friends, we forget lots of things in life. And in truth, perhaps, many, if not most, of these deserve to be forgotten. But numbered among those things we tend to forget should never be the blessings of God. The Psalmist is right: these benefits should not be forgotten!
I leave you with these words by famed poet John Paul Moore:
I've never made a fortune,
And I'll never make one now,
But it really doesn't matter,
'Cause I'm happy anyhow.
As I go along my journey,
I'm reaping better than I've sowed,
I'm drinking from the saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
I don't have a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going's tough,
But with kin and friends to love me,
I think I'm rich enough.
I thank God for the blessings,
That His mercy has bestowed,
I'm drinking from the saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
He gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings for,
I'm already blessed enough.
May we never be too busy,
To help bear another's load,
Then we'll all be drinking from the saucer,
When our cups have overflowed.
JOKE SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for example:
http://www.yourfountain.org/docs/series/2012/esther/week08/Remembering%20the%20King%20-%20Written.pdf.
Most every usage cites the following original source: P. J. Alindogan, "Communicate and Relate," The Potter's Jar” blog, (3-25-12). This blog is available online at: http://pottersjar.blogspot.com/. However, I was unable to find the particular post with this story.
POEM SOURCE: http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_100.htm.
They were discussing where they should go for dinner. Somebody suggested that they meet at the Glowing Embers Restaurant because the waiters and waitresses there are young and beautiful. They all agreed.
Fifteen years later, at 45 years of age, they met and discussed again where they should have dinner. Somebody suggested the Glowing Embers because the food and wine selection there are very good. They all agreed.
Another 15 years later at 60 years of age, they once again discussed where to meet. Somebody suggested the Glowing Embers because you can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free. They all agreed.
Another fifteen years later, at the age of 75, the group discussed again where they should meet. Somebody suggested that they should meet at the Glowing Embers because the restaurant is physically accessible and they even have an elevator. They all agreed.
Finally, 15 years later at the age of 90, the same group of friends discussed one more time where they should meet for dinner. Somebody suggested that they should meet at the Glowing Embers because they had never been there before. And they all agreed.
Who among us cannot relate to this?! It is all too easy to find ourselves forgetting things. Most of us know what it is like to walk into a room and then to have to stop and think about why we went in there in the first place.
I am personally discovering that the older I get, the more often this sort of thing happens. Perhaps you are as well. For, as we age, we tend to find ourselves forgetting many things...
What day of the week it is. What all we wanted to pick up at the grocery store on the way home. A bill that needed to be paid. A loved one’s birthday. (And a great many more things that I just cannot seem to recall right now!)
Of course, some things are okay to forget. A former boyfriend or girlfriend (as the case may be). A bad experience. A rejection letter. A hurtful comment. Etc…
But other things should never be forgotten. A kind deed. A hand up. An encouraging affirmation. A word fitly spoken.
And, of course, one other thing should never be forgotten. I’m talking about the goodness of God! This should never be forgotten. The Psalmist said it best (Psalm 103:1-2): “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits…”
He then proceeds to enumerate these benefits (in verses 3-5) from the God Who:
“forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” and Who
“redeems your life from the pit…” and Who
“crowns you with love and compassion…” and Who
“satisfies your desires with good things…” and Who does this…
“so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Yes, my friends, we forget lots of things in life. And in truth, perhaps, many, if not most, of these deserve to be forgotten. But numbered among those things we tend to forget should never be the blessings of God. The Psalmist is right: these benefits should not be forgotten!
I leave you with these words by famed poet John Paul Moore:
I've never made a fortune,
And I'll never make one now,
But it really doesn't matter,
'Cause I'm happy anyhow.
As I go along my journey,
I'm reaping better than I've sowed,
I'm drinking from the saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
I don't have a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going's tough,
But with kin and friends to love me,
I think I'm rich enough.
I thank God for the blessings,
That His mercy has bestowed,
I'm drinking from the saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
He gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings for,
I'm already blessed enough.
May we never be too busy,
To help bear another's load,
Then we'll all be drinking from the saucer,
When our cups have overflowed.
JOKE SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for example:
http://www.yourfountain.org/docs/series/2012/esther/week08/Remembering%20the%20King%20-%20Written.pdf.
Most every usage cites the following original source: P. J. Alindogan, "Communicate and Relate," The Potter's Jar” blog, (3-25-12). This blog is available online at: http://pottersjar.blogspot.com/. However, I was unable to find the particular post with this story.
POEM SOURCE: http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_100.htm.