The craziest things come across Facebook. Today my brother, Lee, posted the Theme song of “Mr. Ed”, the talking horse. Now, hours later, I cannot get it out of my head! Perched in front of our new, black and white TV, in the mid 1960’s, my brother and I watched this weekly show about a wise, talking horse. Mr. Ed had attitude, for sure, but he always seemed to trump his owner with his words of wisdom for the situations presented in the story line.

I was driving down the long road in the Magadigadi pans in Botswana, where I live, when I saw a horse that triggered my fond memories of sitting with my brother as a kid, watching that show. Oh! I got the “warm fuzzies!” I found myself singing it and my 4 children, ranging from ages 8 to 22, looked at my like I was crazy! I amazed myself for remembering the whole first verse! I guess you would have to be in the 50 to 60’s age group to know what I am talking about.

Sometimes it is hard to get something out of your head. Some things need to stay there, imbedded in our memories, but often times, they really do need to be forgotten! Memories can come just as fresh and real that are anything BUT warm and fuzzy! Maybe it was an injustice done to you, or a situation that left you asking “why God?”

Some memories bring shame, like the time after I had given my life to the Lord at 14 and not long after, I got high with my brother and his friends. I thought I could sit with them and “witness to them” while they smoked their pot. Maybe they would still think I was “cool”. I was wrong. In the thickness of the smokey room, and the vulnerability of the situation , I got just as stoned as the others and smoked right along with them.

The memory of my brother and our friend who I had been trying to share my faith with, stopping me in the hallway afterwards, looking at me and shaking their heads in disgust saying, “Jana, I thought you said you were a Christian”! Oh the shame I felt! What a hypocrite I was! I let God down, I let them down, and most of all, I let myself down. You see, when I met the Lord on March 3, 1976, as my own personal decision to have a relationship with Him, I had a lot of baggage. I was forgiven and set free from Drugs and alcohol at the age of 14! And to fall back into it only a few months later, well, It took some weeks before I understood that God’s forgiveness wasn’t just a one time thing. It is for the rest of my life. It’s not a license to sin, but when I do, and I do and I will, His love is there to cover me.

When memories flash back that bring you pain, give them to all Jesus, He will turn your sorry into joy. And while you are at it, forgive yourself! Can you remember a time when you needed to wipe a memory? Tell us how you did it and how God helped you through it.

Romans 8:1,2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of sin and death.” (Read up to verse 17 for a great read!)

2 Corinthians 5:17I “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away and behold, all things have become new!”

Click to listen to song