Moments -> Memories

I'm someone who really loves remembering things, people, places, etc. I just like to remember. I think that's one of the reasons I love photography so much. I get to capture the moment and always remember just a snapshot of it. But I think the hardest part of remembering things is when the moments become memories. The transition period of a moment becoming a memory, that's hard. When friendships end and they turn into memories, people pass away and the moments you had with them become memories, or when you move and that place becomes just a memory in your mind. The period of it turning from a real moment to a mindful memory is the hardest. There are times when you can actually feel a friendship, a person, a place, etc., becoming a memory and there can be this struggle within you. You don't want the moment to end, you want to continue that friendship, live in that place, but sometimes that isn't God's plan. If we continue to hold onto something that God is trying to tell us to let go of we can hold back the present and miss out on all the things God has for us now. We need to let go. I don't mean you'll lose that thing. But, if we continue to hold on to it, and we don't lay it at God's feet, things get messy. We end up missing out on a lot of the present because we get lost in the past. The past is the past, you lived there then, not now. If we just let go, lay it at His feet, the best will come. Laying it at His feet can be tricky too, because sometimes when we release it out of our hands, we already have our wants in mind. When we tell God, "do with this what you want," we usually have how we want Him to respond in our minds. Then, when He doesn't respond in that way, we become frustrated, angered, and unsettled. But what we want is not always what's best. God knows what we need and when we need it and sometimes that's moments turning to memories. Sometimes that does mean we lose friendships, miss places and people. God knows what we need and he prioritizes that over what we want. Sometimes the best thing we can do is allow God to do His will. That may even mean letting and trusting Him to turn those moments into memories. If we cling to the past, we miss out on all the things God has waiting for us in the present. Obviously, we have no power to stop His plans, He knows if/when we will cling to the past. But clinging on to the past doesn't allow us to move on so we can enjoy what He put right in front of us. We don't stop His plan, but we might miss it. Trust God in the changes and transitions. In order for us to best succeed is for us to trust God when things stay as moments, but also when He says it's time for this to turn into a memory. Sometimes that can be the sweetest thing, but it isn't easy for that transition to happen. One of the worst things we can do is sit in that transition period and prolong that moment becoming a memory. Because if we don't allow Him to leave things in the past, we miss out on so much He has in store for us. Again, we miss out on His plan, because we are dwelling on what was. Moments to memories is hard. I think everyone struggles with changes/transitions in this way. We struggle when moments turn to memories. We don't want the what is to turn to what was, but sometimes that's the best thing, sometimes that's what God has in store. And we just gotta trust.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14