I retired from teaching ssome years ago. Of course, my students are all adults now and that makes it more difficult to remember them. But often times their names resurface out of the depths of forgetfulness rather than the face staring back at me whether through a Facebook invite, an encounter at the grocery store, a festival or even church. There was a time I prided myself in remembering—matching names with faces, but as time wore on I began to notice that I was losing this art of remembering, particularly names. Remembering is important. It is an important cognitive skill for life even for our spiritual journey, and eating the right foods can help us remember key information necessary for this journey.
As human beings, it is not remembering that comes naturally but the act of forgetting (particularly acts of goodness). The word “remember” is mentioned about 139 times in the Bible. The act of remembering or the ability to recall is a skill that requires practice. Constantly, the Ancient Hebrews were told to remember the acts of God, in particular the goodness of God:
“When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…. “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day ( Deuteronomy 8:10-18).
Comfort derived from food and a life of plenty can lead us down the lane of forgetfulness. In the above verses, God implicates this human weakness by warning us not to forget Him, especially when we are physically and mentally satisfied.
Food, for example, affects us cognitively. Researchers at Macquarie University found that when its participants were habitually fed a Western diet—high in fat and sugar, they were “slower at learning and poorer at remembering than those who ate a healthier diet.” In fact, damage was shown in the area of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Certain foods have the ability to change our brains and eventually affect the quality of our life physically, mentally and spiritually. God has gifted us with a brain. It is our responsibility to care for ourselves in a way that will bring us closer to Christ.
Jesus instructs us through communion, His last meal on earth, to remember Him—to remember His love. It is not a suffering Christ we solely remember but a Christ who loved us so much to sacrifice His life. His suffering, His death and His resurrection are His gift of love to us.
God is kind to all of His children; He loves humanity dearly. He sends rain on the just and the unjust. Yet, we all tend to forget and take for granted his lovingkindness. Perhaps, a gratitude jar can benefit all of us or counting our blessings some would suggest. No wonder the act of gratitude has health benefits as well. We obviously have to remember to be thankful, and gratitude is a means of remembering:
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me (Isaiah 46:9).
Here are some tips for living a fuller life:
- Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish. These foods are essential in preserving our memory and keeping diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay. Remember we need our memory to aid us in remembering the goodness of God.
- Let’s take time to think about the lovingkindness of our Creator. He is kind to us all. When we sit at the table to eat a meal, it is God who provides the sun and rain for the crops and the crops to feed the animals. Give Him thanks.
- Daily reflect on His goodness. It is He “who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” If you struggle in seeing the hand of God, try gratitude. Begin counting your blessings and eventually you will see His love.
- Practice mindfulness. Meditation is a vehicle for mindfulness. Think about the stories in the Bible—how God delivered the Ancient Hebrews and how He provided for them in the wilderness. These are now your stories too.
- Exercise to keep the mind sharp. Physical exercise, undoubtedly, is good for the body, mind and soul.
In short, eat healthy foods, exercise and take time to remember God’s kindness and you will experience a more enriching life.
To learn more about how a healthy body and mind can help you on your spiritual journey, order your copy of The Ten Guiding Lights to Health and Wholeness today.
Notes:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160712092401.htm.
