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3 Memorable Days & 2 Sisters!
Several years ago I had a job interview in which the interviewer asked a random question at the very end of the meeting. “What are the 3 most memorable days of your life?”
I had to really put some thought into this. Notice he didn’t ask “what are the 3 best days of your life?” If he had asked that question I would have given answers like - the day I got married, or the day my children were born, or the day I went to Disneyland!
The question posed was “what are the 3 most memorable days?” i.e. outstanding, striking, profound, notable, impressive, extraordinary, remarkable. Look up the word memorable in the dictionary. It doesn’t say anything about best or happiest. So, to me, for something to be memorable means it makes a lasting impression in some way. It may or may not be the happiest day, but it certainly will hold great significance and value.
After a bit of a pause I finally gave my answer. I said, “The 3 most memorable days of my life are…
1) The day I accepted Jesus as my Savior. This was significant because I had made the decision to become a follower of Jesus, making him Lord of my life. And because of that when I die I would live forever with Him in Heaven because of His sacrifice for me on the cross. This truly fit the category of Memorable.
2) The day I pass from this life to the next to spend eternity with God. That will be truly memorable and life changing. Fit’s the Memorable category!
and...
3) Today! Because I never know who or what I am going to encounter in which I can make a positive impact or it /they may positively impact me.
In thinking over my response, the interviewer thought my last answer was the most interesting and asked me to elaborate.
I then explained that if today is the most memorable day of my life, I am “in the moment.” I am stopping to smell the roses. I am slowing down long enough to enjoy people, and encourage or help them. I am finding joy in the big and small things. I am taking opportunities to be enriched. I am fully engaged in this day. And if I am 100% engaged in this day it will be profound, notable, and quite possibly remarkable. And in this way each new “today” comes with the possibility of being the “most memorable”.
I'm pretty sure I didn't get that job. However, I bring it up to challenge us to entertain a new perspective about priorities. As the holidays pick up momentum think about that question. “What are the most memorable days in your life?” It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle- bustle of the season, or any time of year for that matter, that we can miss “today” and all that could be memorable within it.
How do we stay in the moment of “today”?
Recently I was talking with my sister and complaining about a situation I was dealing with. I went on and on and my sister graciously listened as I vented. When I was finally got it all out she said, “sounds like your biggest problem is you don’t like to be inconvenienced when things don’t go the way you planned.” Geez… spoken like only a sister could speak to another sister!
But she had spoken the truth. My schedule was so full that I didn’t have time or flexibility when a random drop-by visitor landed on my doorstep unannounced. My thought was, “Why don’t they call before they come over?” Well, as my sister said, “you probably would say no. Your busy schedule wouldn’t allow for it, And then you may possibly miss out on a divine appointment that God has set for you; in which you may truly wind up experiencing something memorable.”
She got my attention with that comment, but then she added, “Sounds like you are being a “Martha” not a “Marry”.” Yikes! She was right again.
In this story of Mary and Martha in the Bible Jesus came for a visit to the home of his friends Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. Martha was scurrying around the house with her own agenda. She was keeping so busy doing things that she didn’t take time to sit and visit with Jesus. Mary, her sister on the other-hand was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to every word he said clinging to the moment with all her being. When Martha noticed that Mary was sitting around, she said to Jesus, why is my sister just sitting there? Tell her to get up and help me.” Jesus turned to her and said, “Martha, you are troubled about so many things. But Mary has chosen the good part.” In other words, Mary had chosen to put her own agenda aside in order to spend time with the “Divine appointment” that was sitting in her living room. Mary had been flexible and recognized what was important and reprioritized so she could have a most memorable day with the Savior of the world!
As my sister and I discussed the story of Mary and Martha, I realized I have been planning out and spending most of my days as a “Martha.” I am always busy, scheduled out, and on-the-go. I decided I needed to make a change and be more flexible, even if it meant being inconvenienced. I needed to recognize, like Mary did, what was “the good part”. And if I embraced the moment, I could offer that as a “sacrifice” of obedience to God, in which He would be well pleased.
Being open to the detours that come into my day may in fact lead to a truly memorable day.
So…what are your 3 most memorable days?
My prayer for you is that one of your answers will mirror my #1 – the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior. But, I truly hope another of your answers is #3 - “Today”!
I had to really put some thought into this. Notice he didn’t ask “what are the 3 best days of your life?” If he had asked that question I would have given answers like - the day I got married, or the day my children were born, or the day I went to Disneyland!
The question posed was “what are the 3 most memorable days?” i.e. outstanding, striking, profound, notable, impressive, extraordinary, remarkable. Look up the word memorable in the dictionary. It doesn’t say anything about best or happiest. So, to me, for something to be memorable means it makes a lasting impression in some way. It may or may not be the happiest day, but it certainly will hold great significance and value.
After a bit of a pause I finally gave my answer. I said, “The 3 most memorable days of my life are…
1) The day I accepted Jesus as my Savior. This was significant because I had made the decision to become a follower of Jesus, making him Lord of my life. And because of that when I die I would live forever with Him in Heaven because of His sacrifice for me on the cross. This truly fit the category of Memorable.
2) The day I pass from this life to the next to spend eternity with God. That will be truly memorable and life changing. Fit’s the Memorable category!
and...
3) Today! Because I never know who or what I am going to encounter in which I can make a positive impact or it /they may positively impact me.
In thinking over my response, the interviewer thought my last answer was the most interesting and asked me to elaborate.
I then explained that if today is the most memorable day of my life, I am “in the moment.” I am stopping to smell the roses. I am slowing down long enough to enjoy people, and encourage or help them. I am finding joy in the big and small things. I am taking opportunities to be enriched. I am fully engaged in this day. And if I am 100% engaged in this day it will be profound, notable, and quite possibly remarkable. And in this way each new “today” comes with the possibility of being the “most memorable”.
I'm pretty sure I didn't get that job. However, I bring it up to challenge us to entertain a new perspective about priorities. As the holidays pick up momentum think about that question. “What are the most memorable days in your life?” It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle- bustle of the season, or any time of year for that matter, that we can miss “today” and all that could be memorable within it.
How do we stay in the moment of “today”?
- Walk with Jesus and spend time with him as your constant friend
- Prioritize; what do you NEED to get done? Not what do you want to accomplish? There is big difference between need and want. So move Wants to #3
- Only take on what you know is doable without exhausting yourself with an expectation that these things CAN be postponed and left ½ done if necessary.
- Take time to do something good and relaxing for YOU
Recently I was talking with my sister and complaining about a situation I was dealing with. I went on and on and my sister graciously listened as I vented. When I was finally got it all out she said, “sounds like your biggest problem is you don’t like to be inconvenienced when things don’t go the way you planned.” Geez… spoken like only a sister could speak to another sister!
But she had spoken the truth. My schedule was so full that I didn’t have time or flexibility when a random drop-by visitor landed on my doorstep unannounced. My thought was, “Why don’t they call before they come over?” Well, as my sister said, “you probably would say no. Your busy schedule wouldn’t allow for it, And then you may possibly miss out on a divine appointment that God has set for you; in which you may truly wind up experiencing something memorable.”
She got my attention with that comment, but then she added, “Sounds like you are being a “Martha” not a “Marry”.” Yikes! She was right again.
In this story of Mary and Martha in the Bible Jesus came for a visit to the home of his friends Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. Martha was scurrying around the house with her own agenda. She was keeping so busy doing things that she didn’t take time to sit and visit with Jesus. Mary, her sister on the other-hand was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to every word he said clinging to the moment with all her being. When Martha noticed that Mary was sitting around, she said to Jesus, why is my sister just sitting there? Tell her to get up and help me.” Jesus turned to her and said, “Martha, you are troubled about so many things. But Mary has chosen the good part.” In other words, Mary had chosen to put her own agenda aside in order to spend time with the “Divine appointment” that was sitting in her living room. Mary had been flexible and recognized what was important and reprioritized so she could have a most memorable day with the Savior of the world!
As my sister and I discussed the story of Mary and Martha, I realized I have been planning out and spending most of my days as a “Martha.” I am always busy, scheduled out, and on-the-go. I decided I needed to make a change and be more flexible, even if it meant being inconvenienced. I needed to recognize, like Mary did, what was “the good part”. And if I embraced the moment, I could offer that as a “sacrifice” of obedience to God, in which He would be well pleased.
Being open to the detours that come into my day may in fact lead to a truly memorable day.
So…what are your 3 most memorable days?
My prayer for you is that one of your answers will mirror my #1 – the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior. But, I truly hope another of your answers is #3 - “Today”!
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pair tree..."
A partridge in a pair tree..."