REMEMBER

REMEMBER: to recall to the mind with effort 

All of this week the word REMEMBER has been replaying over and over in my mind. I’ve been thinking on why it is important “to remember”. 

My Grandmother made the best flour tortillas!! mmmmmm…just thinking about it makes my mouth water right now. She also made the best “grease bread”!! oooyyy….I’ve gained weight already!

Yes, she “made”, meaning she is no longer with us, however the memory is and there are only two other people that I know that can make tortillas and grease bread with Grandmas recipe; my older sister and my aunt which is my Grandmas youngest daughter, both of whom live a complete four day’s journey from me!!
Thinking back on such a tremendous treasure that my Grandmother passed to the next generation, it will stay there unless there is an effort to remember, an effort to pass on to the next generation. I believe this is one of the essential reasons as to why the Lord expressed REMEMBER the Sabbath day. Recall to mind with effort. Remind ourselves by the lighting of candles on this day that there is an established authority from our Heavenly Father, of joy, peace, great provision, and rejuvenation of heart, soul, and mind. Recalling to mind with the effort of lighting the candles for Shabbat we are solidifying the fact that we are separated unto God, that He is a good Father…and thereby passing that relationship and connection on to our family and to our children to "REMEMBER".

Have a great weekend, Happy Sabbath!!

Keeper

It has been said, more than the Jew keeping the Sabbath the Sabbath has kept the Jew. 

Lighting candles before the sun sets on Friday evenings is how the Jewish people honor God's command Exodus 20:8. Jewish people are known for keeping tradition. And picking up the practice of their tradition by distinguishing between the work-week and the weekend, the work-week and the Sabbath by lighting candles before sunset on Friday evening has communicated to a deeper part of me that has become an inner strength. It is what I look forward to every single week, and with each week passing the longing to do so deepens more and more in my heart.
I ask myself what is the significance, why has this beholden me so.

I cannot pretend to know or relate to the unfathomable atrocity that the Jewish people faced in our history.  All I can do is glean from the lessons of their strength and draw from the strength that has kept them for hundreds of years to this day.

With the striking of the match to light the candle-wick, what has beholden me translates into one word, "Keeper".

No matter what quandary, challenges or struggles I might find myself in, the Keeper has kept the keeper of lighting candles.