Last week, my daughter held an ornament and stared at the Christmas tree in front of her, but her gaze fell somewhere beyond it. “It feels like last year again. I mean, I remember exactly what I was doing this time last year.”
“Last year” for her was fifth grade. Each year her memory bank grows ever more full. And though I’m sure I would envy the list of things she was doing this time last year — making up stories, imagining middle school, being 10 — I also remember what I was doing this time last year.
It came back to me a couple of weeks ago when I took a sip of my first peppermint latte of the season.
Some of us would give anything to go back to this time last year.
Others of us would give anything to forget.
Today at (in)courage, I’m sharing How to Remember When You’d Rather Forget. Join me there?
Beth Williams says
December 9, 2015 at 1:36 PMEmily,
This time last year I was working a job I dreaded. Hubby had just started his transfer job at an Urgent Care for company. My dad had started with “psych” events–not just dementia & sundowners. It was a rough time for me. The whole year was “crappy”! Glad it is gone. This year my hubby has transferred again and is working weekend shift at hospital, I’m a stay at home local missionary caring for my dad. My dad is on hospice and doing ok!!
Have a blessed day! 🙂
Joan Marie Shepherd says
December 11, 2015 at 5:34 AM…last year we decorated our tree together, laughed and enjoyed the wood fireplace in our newly re-appointed family room… my mother-in-marriage was with us and my son diligently fed the fire with oak logs from our wood pile…yes, last year this time would be a good thing to return to…my mother-in-marriage went on from this life in June of 2015 and a month ago (November 12, 2015), a week following his 25th birthday (November 4), my son perished in a fatal auto accident right in front of our home…in a blink of an eye…gone. I look towards the day when a “in a twinkling of an eye” we see our Lord face to face… Hug your loved ones while they are in Hug’s Reach <3
emily freeman says
December 12, 2015 at 7:34 AMI’m so sorry about your husband’s mother and your son, Joan Marie – I suppose there are not words to say beyond that.
Maggie Sifuentes says
December 11, 2015 at 12:57 PMThis touched something in me. Where I’m certain I’ve dealt with the struggles of years ago but it keeps coming back and leaving me at a loss. I love the sweet mystery you hold out here that God can re-member us when we don’t know what to do with the pieces of our past. Thank you Emily – for holding it out and letting it be a mystery.