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We all have this colander. Not the one in the cupboard you use to strain fusilli, I mean the one in your brain. At the end of the day, when everything shakes out, and you are really glad everyone is alive, fed, prayed for and finally in bed, you strain the day's events through your colander and decide what you want to take with you into the next day.
I happen to have two colanders: my brain being one; the second is a small, pink five-year memory book that was given to me by a seasoned mom. There are five lines per day to record the day's events. Every night I have the same moment – the same opportunity – to reach back into my day and take specific memories with me to record for the purpose of reflecting on later. My hope in this diligent task is that we will someday be snorting with laughter at the memories we are making.
Love keeps no records of wrongs. But what about the semi-humorous tantrums of a 3-year-old? Maybe not the painful ones that damage my pride, like the one in the middle of the Target entryway. But the amusing tantrums – like the self-inflicted face-dive into the backseat that took so long I was able to go into the front seat, dig in my purse for my phone, take a picture and complete a social media post – those I want to remember!
Having a memory book as the carrot at the end of my day has helped me focus on the positive. When I am prepared to look for fun things to write down, my expectations change. I expect joyful, silly things to happen. Believe me, I have written my share of entries consisting of three words: It was bad. But for the most part, I have enjoyed looking back on my day and recognizing this opportunity to highlight the good things and leave the bad behind.
And isn't that what God does for us when we are in Christ? His mercies are new every morning, so shouldn't ours be? When I wake up in the morning, am I going to choose to remember the we-can-pretend-your-fork-is-a-spaceship-later-just-take-a-bite battle at the dinner table tonight? Or am I going to emulate the Father and show unconditional love and new mercies?
What are you taking with you into your next day? Will it be challenges or grace?
If you’d like to start recording your adventures, I recommend Mom's One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book.