June 16, 2011
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The Orphan Spirit and Memory Loss…
While serving at the home now and then my kids will have a tough moment and completely lose it. Rebellion, anger, refusal to listen, just plain disrespect and disobedience. It is shocking to me because some of these kids I’ve been especially close with over the past five and a half years. I usually first have to discipline them by having them leave the room or go some place solitary. They need time to cool off and so do I. After I’ve prayed and calmed back down I will go to the kid and try to communicate as clearly as possible what the problem is. But if the child is still in a bad state, all I do is work on their memory loss and gently say things like, “I’ve been teaching you for five years now. Remember this…? Remember that…?” and then give them more time alone. Suddenly all the lies attacking the kid causing him or her to act in rebellion and hate gradually start losing their power. They begin to remember they are loved. And soon (although for some teenagers it may take a while) they return to me and apologize. I speak reassuring of my love for them and they shed some tears. They had forgotten that love over time, so as they remember it hits them deep.
Throughout the Bible God over and over and over tells His people to remember… to remember Egypt… to remember the signs and wonders… to remember God’s faithfulness… to remember all that God has done for them. Whenever a man of God made an altar or a monument to God in remembrance of something He had done for them it was recorded in the Bible. Why? I believe because God wanted to highlight the acts to further press into our minds the need to remember. God knew that it is so easy for us to become insecure and worry. Particularly those who have been rejected and carry an orphan spirit, there is a defense mechanism within them that causes them to reject discipline or love or a relationship the moment there is any warning or strong feeling of insecurity. It causes the person to only look after himself and to be paranoid or judgmental of the other. There is memory loss of the past.
When you don’t remember or reflect, you can easily lose your identity and try and find it in the moment, or just in your pain or fears. I have seen friends and kids suddenly act really irrational because of something they are worried about or because of a simple disagreement. They had forgotten how well they have been provided for and protected in the recent years and are losing control. Even a simple disagreement can cause paranoia or judgment that would have seemed ridiculous to ever consider just before the simple disagreement. But with some work on the memory loss, appreciation, honor, security, and love are able to return.
Please don’t ever forget what others have done for you and the close relationships you have. And especially when there is a disagreement or misunderstanding, choose to remember the altars/monuments in the relationship and don’t let the current difficult moment cause memory loss.
God bless!
