Vijitha Sebastian Adappoor

Many of us go through moments when people depend on us to remind them of things that need to be done at a certain time in future. This is found within the immediate family members all the more. Whenever I’m asked to do the same, I do agree but it also makes me wonder about the confidence others repose on me while putting in such a request.

A friend of mine had very good memory power particularly in remembering various events and numbers. She would be the first one to remember birthdays and anniversaries always. Once, we told her that we do appreciate this gift in her and how we could rely on her as she was good at memorizing even the phone numbers. Having crossed the half century mark, the age factor has started playing truant and many a times she is at the receiving end nowadays for not displaying her inborn abilities. Well…she feels the modern gadgets have taken over all our cranial capacities and so we needn’t overwork our brains. Her present disposition is an outright ‘NO’ to the reminder requests put in by others. Very politely she downplays their angry looks by adding that as her memory lobes are out of tune, very often they present blank pages.

I ask people to remind me to do things for two reasons (a) they might actually do it (b) the act of me asking them helps me to remember such things. There were umpteen occasions when others would ask me to remind them and I would retort angrily, ‘as if I don’t have enough stuff of my own to remember.’ Then, in a calm state of mind, I explain it to them that in all probability I too would forget.

We also know a few others who very eagerly make elaborate plans and ask others to remind them to do various things. I have been a victim of this sentence many times. I prefer to call it a punishment because those who are asked to do so have to constantly compel themselves to remember it. These days we also bump into real good souls who very politely utter, ‘Please do not rely on me.’ It would be a truly horrible design of the world if everyone around us takes up such a stance. Is it because of the individualistic tendencies we see in the younger lot or is it because the bonds of love are being realigned to suit one’s own selfish needs?

Humaneness hasn’t fizzled out yet as we do have with us a very reliable person who never fails to remind us, chide us, encourage us, calm our tensed nerves, relieve our worries and take care of many other things that we need to set our life straight. This mighty power never says ‘Don’t expect me to do it.’ Jesus continually reminds us in His own magical ways. There is great comfort in knowing that our Lord is always there to help us. He holds every beat of our heart with His love. Our Lord loves us unconditionally not because of what we can do, will do or what we have done but because we are His children.

We belong to God and He is the only one who has the power to define our days. We may not be aware of His presence during the toughest days but He never leaves us. We don’t have to figure out everything on our own. We don’t have to pretend that we’re okay. He understands and takes care of us. He is able to see what we can’t see and knows what we can’t or don’t understand. He works on our behalf through every trial and leads us on to the other side. We have to keep moving and believe that our Lord will take us through to the next place that He has marked out for us.

In order to fulfill the plan He has for us, during our trials He will build the strength we need to walk through them. Jesus, in His infinite mercy, will not only walk with us on our journey, but will also let us know that He is still there walking beside us in every peak and valley that we confront. Slowly, we realize that we can’t do without Him. Just as we can’t comprehend or define God, the Love of Jesus for us is also equally incomprehensible.

As we wind up this beautiful season of Lent, let us make our life easy by adopting a few good old techniques like pursuing honesty, sincerity and simplicity. Let us love, worship and obey God, stay away from bitterness, anger and jealousy, cultivate humility and patience and be friendly with everyone. We should not try to retaliate for wrongs done to us, never even wish something bad for any other person and leave justice to God.

Let no low words ever pass our lips so that our language remains pure and do what is right always. Let us live by our conscience, have consideration for our neighbours and treat them properly, and above all be dependable and responsible. I bet all these are still in fashion and I firmly believe that the most beautiful people are those who reflect Christ.