Subject: God knows all about us, and won’t forget us (Memorial Day).
Related Scripture: Isaiah 49:15, 16.
Activities
Elephant Craft
Check Pinterest for elephant crafts that are easy to make. Or visit the website: https://artsycraftsymom.com/20-enormously-cute-elephant-crafts-for-kids.
If you don’t want to do a craft, you can find little elephant toys, or print pictures of elephants and display them around the room with the saying “An elephant never forgets.” This is to remind the women that the Lord will never forget them.
Game
Play the game “Two Truths and a Lie.” Ask the women to writes two truths and a lie on a sheet of paper. The statements can be anything from what they like/don’t like, places they have been, or weird talents they might have. The group tries to figure out which statement is a lie. Points are earned by guessing the lie.
For another game, have everyone write one thing about themselves that they don’t think anyone else knows. Points are earned by guessing who wrote what fun fact.
These games showed us what we know about one another and that often there were many things that we didn’t know, but God knows everything about us. He remembers every little detail of our lives.
Song
Song #10, “Someone Cares” from The Salvation Army Song Book, could be read as a poem or used during a time of reflection.
Do You Remember?
Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died serving in the US armed forces. There are many families who go to cemeteries all over the country to place flags and other memorabilia on the graves of those who have lost their lives in service of our country.
In Arlington, Virginia there is a tomb of a soldier whose remains were unidentifiable in 1921. He was an unknown soldier who fought for his country and died. The family that he left behind never knew what happened to him. Thankfully, in 1998 the body was exhumed and because science and technology had advanced, the unknown soldier was identified. But what about those men and women whose bodies were never found—those who went Missing in Action and never were found? Those soldiers are unknown, and to many of us, forgotten.
Can you remember a time when you thought you were lost as a child? It can be one of the most frightening things we experience. One moment your mom or dad is right there with you, and the next, you cannot find them. You search all over, calling out, “Mommy!” or “Daddy!” with no success. Then your little young mind starts to think that maybe they forgot about you. Maybe they left, and you are all on your own.
Has there ever been a time when you looked in the mirror and asked, “Who is that?” Have you ever felt like you were unknown to yourself, your family or friends, maybe even to God? I know I have. I remember being accepted into training college in October of 2009 and just a few short month later, my mentor passed away. It didn’t take long for me to become someone I didn’t know. My actions and words were those of a young woman who felt alone and forgotten. Feelings of abandonment rose up and blanketed every aspect of my life. Maybe you can relate.
Read Isaiah 49:15–16 (NIV).
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.’’ How amazing to know that our Father in Heaven never forgets us. It doesn’t matter what we go through, what sins we have committed or how far we have turned from Him, He will not forget us. He will always be able to identify us because He has engraved us on the palm of His hands … us— not our name, age, rank, sins, parents … no, He has engraved YOU. I like to picture my face being engraved on His hand. He loves you and me so much that it’s as if He has a tattoo of us on His hands, one that He and everyone else can see always.
The soldiers in those graves who are unidentifiable to us, He knows. Those men, women and children who go missing and slowly fade from the minds of others, He knows. To each woman sitting here today, He knows. Not only does He know you, but He loves you so much that He engraved you on His hands.
Matthew 10:29–31 says that He takes cares of the birds of the air but that you are worth more than they are. On top of that, it says that He knows how many hairs are on your head. Psalm 139:13–16 says that He made you just the way you are in your mother’s womb.
You may feel like you are unknown to the people in this group. You may feel like you are unknown to your family. If there are people around you who don’t know who you are, remember this: God knows you. He knows you today and always. He knows each of your hurts and what makes you dance for joy. Turn to Him when you feel alone and remember: God will never forget you.
Prayer
Father, we thank you for knowing us, for loving us so much that you engraved us on the palm of Your hand. How special we are to You, Father. May we be reminded of this every day. May our lives reflect Your amazing love for us. Help each of us to show Your love to those around us.
