Phil 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you...

Memories have a way of exposing our heart's true condition.  Memories can make us smile, happy & glad. Memories can drive us to tears,  can make us emotional, or can bring about a passionate display of emotions. The resulting reaction of remembering people, places and events tells a whole lot about our well-being. It bespeaks of an internal character that hides within and simply waits for an opportunity to rear its ugly head. Unless our heart is right within, we cannot expect it to manifest a Christlike attitude. For indeed, everything that is seen and heard from us emanates from our hearts. For out of the abundance of our heart, our mouth speaks (Mt 12:34)

I have been taking note lately of my emotional and mental responses whenever I am reminded of certain people and events. I notice that when I am reminded of hurts caused by others, I am roused to think evil thoughts (sometimes vindictive, sometimes resentful)... Yeah, these thoughts are not nice... I am aware.  By the grace of God however, I am able to deal with them eventually and move towards graciousness, joy and peace.  I know, that apart from God I would never be able to deal with these painful memories in a Christlike fashion.

Paul said that he always prayed with joy & thanks whenever he was reminded of the believers from Philippi. Paul seemed to have wisely cultivated an attitude of always trying to find something good about others. Yeah, other people can be soooo bad and may even hurt us. But in the light of God's grace, surely, there must be something good in it, that we can thank God for? 

I have observed that whenever I tolerate bitterness in my heart when reminded of hurtful memories, I just end up having such a heavy heart. But when I choose to find something to thank God for and joyfully lift that up in prayer, I eventually feel good about myself and even with the way I relate with others.

"Lord help me focus on your goodness and your love. Certain people and events in my past may have caused me pain. I do recognize the hurt and the pain that these have caused me. But I need not live today, bound and strapped by the past.  I can live today in freedom and in joy knowing that there is a goodness that lies within that pain.  And that good can only be found in the light of your grace and presence in my life. Teach me how to be joyful o Lord.  I want to be like you."