My Word For 2023 is Remember

 

Each year, for the last several years, I have chosen a word for the year. Last year it was gratitude, the year before it was joy, and this year, my word is remember. 

On the website Chaimbentorah, it says " Genesis 40:14 at these words: “keep me in mind” and “mentioning me.”  Both are the same words in Hebrew, zacar which means to remember or remember me." Some other phrases used for remember are: been mindful, bringing to mind, keep, and make mention. 

This year, I want to make sure to remember the important people in my life. I want to remember God, family, friends, neighbors, and others. I want to be more aware of the one, while also remembering to focus on Jesus Christ and what He would want me to do when interacting with others. I want to be better at noticing needs and doing something about them. It doesn't matter if the need is emotional, spiritual, physical, or emotional, to look at how I can help others and let them know that I remember them. 

Each Sunday that we partake of the ordinance of the sacrament, we promise to remember Christ. Here are the words to the prayers for the bread and water:

BLESSING ON THE BREAD

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

BLESSING ON THE WATER

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

While I have always focused on these prayers every week, and have focused on remembering Christ all week, I want to become even better at remembering Him more often, and all of my brothers and sisters on this planet. For years I have been drawn to help others, and I do so privately, but I want to do more. 

Posting about my lesson from Come Follow Me each week is another way to do that. I also want to reach out more to family, through emails, phone calls, letters, and visits with those that are close that I am able to see. I would also like to make more friends. I am surrounded by people in my work and church, but I don't really take the time to spend time with friends and build those relationships, and I would like to see that change. 

This year at work, we will be meeting in person more and the individuals that I have worked with virtually for the last two years I will be able to actually get to know better. I am looking forward to that. Soon we will have another counselor joining my office and I will get to know them too and have someone else to work with. That will also be nice. 

Above all though, I want to make sure that I am remembering Jesus Christ, what he has done for me and that I am focused on keeping His commandments and doing those things that will help the spirit to be with me more, such as more intentful prayer, scripture study, and teaching others about what I have learned.