Jog your memory

“These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”

Joshua 4:7b

Jog your memory means something or someone has suddenly reminded you of something forgotten. The expression evolved from the definition of jog, which means to nudge.

I’m sentimental and I love the memories certain things in my home invoke. Our mind is a complex element of who we are and facilitate our thought process. I think it’s neat how certain smells can trigger happy memories tucked away in our subconscious. I instantly go back to first grade when I smell a new box of crayons. For some of us, it’s the first line of defense because the trauma we’ve experienced, especially as a child, has been suppressed from our consciousness.

Before Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land, God said to him in Joshua 3:7, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” God wanted the people to know He was the same God that led His people through the Red Sea. As the priests stepped into the Jordan River, the water stopped flowing, clearing a path on dry land for God’s people to pass. We see faith in action because the water didn’t stop until after they stepped into the water.

Once everyone had crossed, a member from each tribe was summoned to retrieve a stone from the middle of the river bed. Twelve stones were stacked as a visual reminder to never forget how the powerful hand of the living God had led them through the water. He wanted future generations to inquire about the stones and be told about the miracle when God dried up the Jordan.

We still make monuments to jog our memory, especially on this day. We will never forget what happened in 2001 because the memories of that day are ingrained into our minds. There are tributes and monuments to remind us and future generations of the ones lost and the sacrifices so many made in the attempt to save others. God wants us to reflect and remember so we won’t take for granted the blessings He has bestowed on us. Through our faith, we have the strength to carry on and have hope for a tomorrow.