February 9, 2022 It’s one of the first things I look at when I unlock my iPhone in the morning. One of the popular social media platforms includes a “memories” feature. Clicking on that portion of the app/website allows users to see every post they made and posts others made that included them on that particular date over the years since they started using the platform. For example, my memories from Feb. 5 included a 2011 photos I posted of my son, Jake, playing in the snow; a post from that same year from a friend teasing me about how good I was going to look in a Green Bay Packers cheese head hat after losing a Super Bowl bet; and a 2017 post a college friend shared after she found a photo of our college powder puff football team (the photo was from around 2001). That “memories” feature gives me an opportunity to reflect on where I’ve been. It shows me photos and videos from experiences and events big and small. It gives me little reminders of how far my son, Jake, has progressed since his early days being completely non-verbal and being diagnosed with autism. It gives me chances to see conversations with people who are no longer here with us. Sometimes, seeing my posts from years past shows me how much I’ve grown and changed over the years. Those old posts remind me where I’ve been. I thought about how much I value that feature as I reflected on the theme of our diocesan 150th anniversary celebration, “Remember, Renew, Rejoice.” In a special way this year, we’re called to remember our history as a family of faith, including those who came before us. We’re called to renew our commitment to Christ, his Church and one another. We’re called to rejoice in the gifts and blessings we continue to receive from God as we work to be His voice and hands here in the North Country. It’s also a good time to “Remember, Renew, Rejoice” in our own lives. It’s a good time to remember the experiences, events and people God has placed in our lives and the ways He’s helped draw us unto Him through them. It’s a good time to renew our commitment to at least trying to choose God and His ways every day of our lives. It’s a good time to rejoice that we have a Savior and His Church guiding us to eternal lives. It’s a good time to be thankful for the “memories.” |
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