forgetting – Grits with Grace

Family, food, life, money, school days, Scripture

Penny Candy

Posted on July 7, 2025July 6, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13

A while back I was walking in the Sam’s parking lot heading to, you guessed it, Sam’s to get a couple of items. As I was walking along, I saw something shiny and guess what? It was a quarter. Now, I am a coin picker upper. Every coin, from a penny to whatever, usually ends up in my pocket. I must admit sometimes pennies don’t make the cut but an example from my past usually causes me to pause and bend down. I had a good friend named Andy at Cobden, one of my previous pastorates. He is the one that taught me not to pass up any coin so in honor of him…I usually stop and bend down.

Well, back at Sam’s, on that particular day, my treasure was a quarter. First, I know, it may have had some germs on it but hey…what money doesn’t? And second, a quarter doesn’t sound like much, but I remember a time when it was a whole lot. That is the reason Andy probably never passed up anything. He, too, could remember a time.

You see, when I was a kid, we would walk along the road, not to pick up cans but coke bottles (understand that any bottle that held a soft drink was called a coke bottle). Each bottle was worth a whopping two cents. We would walk looking for bottles and when our hands were full or we were tired, we would head straight to the store.

My favorite was Owen’s Small Engine Repair. He always kept a great selection of penny candy. Now this was the good stuff…quite the bargain. So, we could take our bottles and for each bottle walk out with two pieces of the good stuff. When I found that quarter laying in the parking lot, I imagined twelve and a half bottles—a bonanza back in the day. Twenty-five pieces of candy. Who could pass up a find like that?

Isn’t it funny how our past can impact our actions today? I know sometimes that can be a difficult thing and then maybe it’s best “left lying on the ground.” But, if your past is like mine, there are plenty of things worth remembering…and honoring. The key is knowing which is which and what is what. Paul must have had that in mind when he wrote that he had chosen to “forget that which is behind,” and trust me some of his past was harder than hard.

Today as you journey, keep your eyes up and look around and marvel at just how good God is. But, occasionally, don’t be afraid to look down. Who knows, you might just spot something that will cause you to remember bottles by the road and a trip to the candy store. You just might see something worth remembering. And, if you do, be sure and thank the One who makes that “worth remembering” thing possible. Remember to thank the One who is so keen on you He gave His best. And then, remember, no matter what you are facing…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Remember

Posted on April 21, 2023April 20, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all You have done and meditate on Your actions.” Psalm 77:11

I remember when. It is a line that is heard a lot in conversation. A favorite time. A favorite trip. A favorite memory. It seems the older we get, the more we use those three words. I remember when gas was 18 cents a gallon. I remember when a Coke was 5 cents. I remember when a Whopper was 49 cents. I remember my first new car was $2,795. I remember my friend bragging that he could boil water in a paper cup, and I was introduced to the microwave.

Now would be a good time to tell you that I am not 102 years old. In fact, I am, well never mind. Let’s just say not that old. The ability to remember is one of the gifts that God gave to us as humans. I can remember when I met my wife Judy–boy, she was cute. I can remember when our first daughter was born–boy, she was cute too–took after her mom. First granddaughter–yup, cute too. I remember when.

We all have those great memories. Unfortunately, we also all have those “not so great” memories. Times when we made unwise decisions that resulted in Goliath size consequences in our lives. They usually involved a split moment in time when “the want” outweighed “the wisdom” and we acted. The results were scars, broken hearts, financial disasters, and regret.

So, what do you do with this memory thing? We all can remember back before the COVID thing was a thing…when things were…normal. Want to go out and eat? Sure. Want to go shopping. Sure. Want to go on vacation? Sure. Want to go to church? Sure. Then came that long stretch when things were anything but normal. Gratefully, now, we are beginning to taste, at least, a variation of normal. But the question remains, “What do we do with yesterday? What do we do with the regrets? What do we do with yesterdays that leave us longing or weeping? What do we do with fear of the unknowns?”

Saul (aka Paul) had to deal with that. He had a long history of regrets. As a young man climbing up the corporate ladder, he made his living imprisoning people for believing in Jesus. People who followed Jesus would quake when he walked into town. It usually meant someone was going to jail. Or worse. He once stood by as a mob stoned a young man named Stephen. He nodded his approval with each sickening thud as stone met flesh.

So, what happened? He met Jesus and he was instantly and forever changed. He went from Jesus hater to Jesus follower. The only problem was people have long memories and he was a people. Every look in the polished metal mirror reminded him. Every trip to a new town carried the dread that someone would say, “Hey, isn’t that the guy?” Ever had that happen? Ever dread that happening? Well, Paul did too, and he gave us some mountain moving advice in Philippians 3:13a-14.

He wrote “This one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” There you go. He says, “I am not going to let my past control my present or my future”. Paul accepted one amazing deal. Grace. God had forgiven him of all his messes in the past and he finally made the decision to live in grace rather than regret.

So, as we continue our journey through these days of a new different, we can long for the old days, or we can live in gratitude and grace. As memories of mistakes the size of Everest sneak their way into our present, we can sink, or we can swim in His grace. As we look in the mirror, we can see what might have been or believe what God says is. The author of Psalm 77 said, “I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions.”

You need to know and believe that He’s pretty keen on you. He’s not ashamed or afraid to call you His. There is never a hint of regret for His decision to let you in the family. Hey, believe that. Rest in that. He’s got you. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Don’t Forget!

Posted on April 27, 2022April 26, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13b-14

I forgot the most important thing. It was the fall of 1976. My wife Judy and I were newlyweds and life was good. Oh, and for the record…smile…here we are 46 years later, and life is well…good. I got a call from my oldest brother Reggie who asked if I wanted to go squirrel hunting and could I find a place for us to go. I told him sure and a good friend who had a good place to go squirrel hunting said sure too. So, we picked a Saturday and set a time.

Since the really good place was east of Valdosta where Judy and I lived and since he lived in Jacksonville, we agreed to meet at the hunting place. So, I left early and he, having to drive even further, left earlier and at the appointed hour, we both arrived. I love it when a plan comes together. The sun was just about to say good morning when we got out of our cars. It turns out squirrels are early risers so the best time for hunting is early, and we were early. I love it when a plan comes together.

After a “good morning” and “how are you doing”, we both went to our cars to get our weapons. I recently learned from a friend that guns are not called guns they are either firearms or weapons. The Navy does the same thing with boats and ships. Anyway, as I got to my car and popped the trunk, I reached in to get my gun, weapon or firearm and…wait for it…it wasn’t there. At first, I thought in the dim light of dim I just wasn’t seeing it so I prodded and poked around and guess what? The hunter had forgotten the most important thing…his gun, weapon or firearm.

I was so embarrassed. My brother was one of those African safari kind of hunters. He had his hunting vest, his gun, weapon or firearm, a knife and on and on. He looked the part and there I stood with no gun, weapon, or firearm. I didn’t even have a knife. So, I told him apparently in the rush to be on time I had left the most important thing behind. We groaned, we moaned and then we laughed. After all, it was funny. So, with two hunters and one gun, weapon or firearm, off we went into the woods. And all morning, I followed quietly behind my brother as he shot squirrels and I watched.

You might be wondering exactly how does a guy who is going hunting forget the tool of the trade…the gun, weapon or firearm. Well, the best I can figure the answer probably has to do with priorities. You see, I can only imagine that I was running a little late that morning and at the moment being on time (which for the record is important) caused me to rush and leave my gun, weapon or firearm behind. In other words, the important took the place of the most important…the urgent overrode the most urgent. And, I have the feeling, it happens way too often.

All of us have things that are important and most of us have a most important thing. Paul, the guy who wrote a bunch of the New Testament said that there was one thing he did. In other words, this one is important, and do you know what it was? Forgetting the past and looking to the future. Now that is a good one. You see, he knew he had a past worth forgetting and a future worth grabbing ahold of and that was what made it important.

So, what is it in your life that you need to bump up to the top? Chances are it can’t be bought at a store or rented from Rent One. Chances are it involves those that you love the most and the ones who love you most. Don’t wait to figure this one out. Time is ticking by and there is not a minute to lose. If you find yourself at a loss, well, there is someone just waiting to help. He is really good at lending clarity for our priorities if we ask. To some He is just God but to others He is Dearest Daddy. Regardless, He loves you and is waiting to help you. No doubt about it…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Remember

Posted on May 10, 2021May 9, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all You have done and meditate on Your actions.” Psalm 77:11

Now would be a good time to tell you that I am not 102 years old. In fact, I am, well never mind. Let’s just say not that old. The ability to remember is one of the gifts that God gave to us as humans. I can remember when I met my wife Judy–boy, was she cute. I can remember when our first daughter was born–boy, she was cute too–took after her mom. First granddaughter–yup, cute too. I remember when.

He wrote “This one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” There you go. He says “I am not going to let my past control my present or my future”. Paul accepted one amazing deal. Grace. God had forgiven him of all his messes in the past and he finally made the decision to live in grace rather than regret.

So, as we continue our journey through these days of a new different, we can long for the old days, or we can live in gratitude and grace. As memories of mistakes the size of Everest sneak their way into our present, we can sink or we can swim in His grace. As we look in the mirror, we can see what might have been or believe what God says is. The author of Psalm 77 said, “I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions.”