The Forgotten

Day ninety-one

As I was getting ready to pray this morning, the thoughts of what my day would consist of were running through my head, and I realized that my Friday prayers seem to be the same.  I know part of it is because I do some of the same things every Friday, but it feels like its getting too casual.  So this morning I took some extra time and really thought about what I needed to pray about, and I'm glad I did, because I had a much better conversation with the Lord today than I have had in a while.

Genesis 40

Today's scripture study has been interesting.  I knew what the chapter was about and I started reading thinking I would go in one direction with my thoughts, but ended up in a different direction.  I didn't have time to sit down right after studying and write my post, I had to do some chores first, which gave me the opportunity to think about what this chapter meant to me.

I couldn't get the thought of Joseph being forgotten out of my mind.  I think everyone can relate to being the forgotten one, maybe not on the same scale of Joseph's experience, but we have all been forgotten at sometime.  I started to stew about the times in my life when I thought that someone had forgotten me.  You know the times, like when you've worked really hard on something and no one says thank you or there was an activity and no one invited you to it. I could feel those hurt feelings swelling inside me all over again.

Luckily, the Lord places things in my life that bring me back to the real world and help me stop focusing on myself.  I saw a flyer for a service project to help the homeless while running my errands and I started to think about how they might feel like the forgotten.  Then I started to think about all the people in my life who over the years have helped mold me into the person I am today, have I forgotten them?  What am I doing to remember those friends from my childhood that were like sisters to me?  What about all the teachers I've had that took the time to educate me?  How could I forget them, they were so important to me at the time? Am I too wrapped up in my own life, that I am forgetting to remember others?

In some ways I am no better than the butler in Joseph's story who doesn't remember to tell Pharaoh about him.  He doesn't remember Joseph until a situation comes up that triggers his memory two years later.  I want to be better than that.  I am trying to make more time for people in my busy schedule.  I want them to know how grateful I am for their impact on my life and that they are important to me.

Although I have been one of the forgotten, I have also been the one that is remembered and I know what great feelings that can bring.  I want to bring those great feeling to others. So to all those that have loved me and supported me over my lifetime I want to say THANK YOU! And to let you know that you are not forgotten.