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In Mexico Mothers day is always on May 10th, and in America it’s always the second Sunday in May.  This year they are both the same day.  Remembering our mothers is a big deal in both countries.  We remember the love they showed us, the hugs and prayers, the special meals they made for us, the bedtime stories and a hundred other things that each of us have tucked away in our hearts when we think of MOM.  We honor our mothers in special ways on  her special day.  I always send flowers to my mother and call her on this special day, because, after all, she is the most wonderful mother in the world.

We not only have a special day to remember Mom, but we have certain days throughout the year when we remember important people and events in our history.  We have days to honor soldiers who have given their lives for their country.  We have Memorial Day in which we remember loved ones that have passed on.  Remembering special people and events seems to be much more important in Mexico than in the United States.  In the U.S. we have some holidays to remember people and events, but a lot of times they are excuses for three day weekends and not a lot of remembering actually takes place.

My six year old daughter, Sally, is part of the flag team at her kindergarten.  Every Monday she marches with her team at the start of the school day.  Every child sings the Mexican national anthem and recites their pledge of allegiance.  Throughout the school year her flag team joins all the other flag teams of Tlacolula, Mexico, in different places around town to honor and remember important people and events in Mexico’s history.  Naturally, Anita and I take Sally to these events.  Here is a list of all the ceremonies we attended this last school year:
Death of the boy heroes, Shout for Independence, Independence day, Consummation of independence, United Nations day, Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, Anniversary of Mariano Matamoros, Constitution day, Anniversary of Vicente Guerrero, Birth of Benito Juarez, Death of Emiliano Zapata and finally, the Battle of Puebla.

That is a lot of remembering.  I like it.  At each ceremony the leaders of the town are in attendance, and someone gives a speech about the significance of the person or event that is being celebrated.  All of these ceremonies take place every year, to insure that the people, especially the children, know their history.  When people know their history, they have a better sense of who they are and where they came from.

Remembering is important to God and the Bible.  In the Old Testament, God is forever telling his chosen people to remember.  Their greatest failures occurred when they forgot.  They forgot Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They forgot the Passover, they forgot crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land.  They forgot how God delivered their enemies into their hands.  They forgot the Law of God.  Most importantly they forgot God himself.

Remembering is important in the New Testament as well.  When Jesus had his Last Supper with the disciples, he held up the cup of wine and the bread, and said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  When we partake of Holy Communion, we remember Christ’s broken body and blood shed on the cross for the remission of sins.  We remember that because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we live joyous lives in right relationship with our heavenly Father.  We remember that He loves us and wants us to be happy.  We remember who we are and how we got here.  Let’s never forget.

This post is dedicated to my wonderful mother, Carolyn Schwab.  I love you Mom!
*****          *****          *****          *****

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.                              Jennie E. Hussey