Nearly 6 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease; it costs $260 billion annually to care for them. Still today no cure is in sight. Experts say until a cure is found the best thing to do is get good sleep, eat healthy food, and exercise. Our brains are critical to our wellbeing. Not only do we depend upon our brains to manage the functions of our bodies, but stored memories guide our present behavior. Recalling past experiences remind us of why we should act in a certain way today. We know not to touch a hot stove today because we recall touching one in the past. The impact of past experiences is why God through Moses urged ancient Israel to keep firmly in mind their experience at Mt Sinai. We read in Deuteronomy Chapter 4, “Watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” By keeping alive vivid memories of important past experiences, we learn why we should act in certain ways today. By using our minds daily to meditate on God and His Word, by gathering weekly with God’s people, we enrich our memories to deal with personal, family, and community issues.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
