Never Forget

“Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”—Psalm 103:2 NLT

Hermann Ebbinghaus developed a tireless quest to understand memory. Born in Germany in 1850, he was among the first to study this subject scientifically.

One series of experiments was based on testing three-letter syllables, or trigrams, he developed. He conducted experiments to determine what the mind retained and how quickly we forgot what had been learned.

Ebbinghaus proved just how quickly we can forget even the things that we think we will always remember. He found that, within 20 minutes, we can forget as much as 40% of what we have learned! After two days, as much as 80% is forgotten!

He also recognized that all of us are different. Some people have a better capacity to remember than others. There are techniques to improve memory, yet most of us forget all too easily—even information we know is important and things we want to remember.

This is a reason Memorial Day was established in the United States. It’s a day set aside to remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.

The Bible also encourages us to remember our parents and forebears, those who have been part of our spiritual heritage, who have taught us, prayed for us, counseled us, and helped us grow in our faith.

We are to remember God. Never forget all that He has done for you, and always remember His Word.

Reflection Question: Who taught you the most significant things, and what were they?