100 Things to Remember

Remember when remembering was easier than it is now? (I’m talking to my older readers. You younger ones—remember this: you’ll be old too, someday.)

 

I post a gratitude list on Facebook each night and if I don’t keep a running list on my phone throughout the day, forget it! I can barely remember my name by 9pm, let alone remember the details of my day.

Counting it all Joy (the name of my nightly list) is my way of remembering the good stuff. Making my list reminds me (another “Re-word” that I could write a whole post about) to have perspective—to see accurately. When you actively look for blessings, really pay attention (it costs something: time, energy, focus) you realize there’s no such thing as a bad day.

 

 

Understand please, that no one who knows me well would ever call me a Pollyanna, or Susie Sunshine. But as I continue to ask God to give me eyes to see what He sees, and then to purposefully remember by the act of writing it down, my days have a lightness to them. My perspective changes.

Ultimately what I remember by all that remembering is this truth:

GOD. IS. GOOD.

Life is good.

Of course He is. And life IS good. But I forget. It’s crazy how forgetful I am.

Yesterday I totally forgot that I had a facial scheduled even though I had it written down in several places. (But I remembered to go to the grocery.) I remember big things but forget little things. Or I remember little things but forget big things.

The power of making a list

Photo by Tyler Ely

 

The word remember means to retain, recall, relive, or remind. To recollect or reminisce. It comes from the prefix “re-” (again) + memorai “be mindful of.”

In Hebrew, the origin of the word remember lies in the idea of pricking, piercing.  I love that! The act of remembering acting as a kind of physical goad.

 

We sigh and say, “I guess this illness is permanent.”

God pokes at our memories and says, “Remember when I healed you?”

 

We resign ourselves to things never changing.

The Holy Spirit nudges us to look outside our window and says, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

 

So, I decided to make myself a list to sort of “prick my conscience,” about all the stuff I tend to forget. To help me remember. Maybe it will help you remember, too.

 

 

 

Remember:

1. life is a privilege
2. where you came from
3. to say thank you
4. to journal
5. to smile
6. to get some fresh air every day
7. to sing
8. to dance
9. be curious
   
10. to laugh
11. you don’t know what someone has been through
12. weeping may last through the night but joy comes in the morning
13. to memorize scripture
14. the good times during the bad times
15. good times will come again
16. to listen
    
17. to read every day
18. have some rituals
19. to rest
    
20. to make your bed
21. to monitor your thoughts
    
22. exercise your rights as daughter of the King
23. eat healthy
24. keep a gratitude list
    
25. call your mother
    
26. you were young once, too
27. you are a child of the most high God
28. God is your healer
29. God is your provider
    
30. God sings over you
31. God delights in you
32. your childhood dreams
33. not everyone understands your dreams
34. to comfort the hurting
35. to make funny faces
36. to wear cool socks
37. to make lists
38. to whistle
39. to put down your phone
40. to pet your dog
41. to pet your neighbor’s golden retriever
42. to not pet your neighbor’s pit bull
43. you’ll be old one day, too
44. to mind your manners
45. to teach your kids to mind their manners
46. to teach your kids to mind you
47. reach for the stars
48. try something new
    
49. drink water
50. have a mentor
51. be a mentor
52. be a friend
53. love your enemies
54. always be learning something new
55. read non-fiction once in a while
56. write a poem – try haiku
57. turn off the TV
58. that this too, shall pass
59. hugs help
60. to resole your favorite boots
61. you are blessed if you have a roof over your head
    
62. to forgive
    
63. PJ’s all day is OK but not every day
64. to take your vitamins
65. it’s more blessed to give than to receive
66. to recalibrate your bathroom scales
67. stretchy pants may not be your best option
68. some days stretchy pants are your ONLY option
69. give others the grace you’d want them to give you
70. weep with those who weep
71. to have real life friends, not just Facebook friends
72. listen to good music
73. read poetry
74. call your mother
75. train your brain
76. guard your tongue
77. take long walks
78. get down on the floor and play with a child
79. to walk in the woods
80. stare at the sky
81. say please
82. pray before you go to bed
    
83. pray when you get up in the morning
84. pray without ceasing
85. volunteer
86. God has a plan and a purpose for your life
87. God’s purpose will prevail
88. you can redesign your life
    
89. to call your mother
90. if you’re not dead yet, you’re not done yet
91. you can whine and decline or you can praise and be raised
    
92. to tell your story
93. to tell His story
94. everybody has a story
95. Jesus loves you
96. to visit your parents
97. share your cookies
98. play nice
99. to practice hospitality
    
100. wear the dangly earrings and use the good china
     
101. to count it all joy

 

Whew! I feel better already, don’t you? (And yes, I repeated “Call your mother” three times, a not-so-subliminal message to my children.) I added some humor to my list because I always need a reminder to lighten up. What do you need to be reminded of?

What would you add to this list? Your list will probably look totally different than mine and I’d love to read it. 

 

 

I’ll close with a scripture that you can use as a prayer:

“Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction. Ps 90:12 TPT

Amen.

 

*If you would like to delve a little more deeply into the power of intentional remembering by making lists, check out the fun book 52 Lists for Happiness by Moorea Seal.