Lament to Praise

Several legends surround the naming of the beautiful five-petaled flower the Forget-Me-Not. Among those stories is one from a German legend. According to the story, as God named all the plants He’d created, one little flower worried that it would be overlooked. So the flower called out “Forget-me-not, O Lord.’ And that’s the name God gave to it.

Though this is only a story, the Forget-Me-Not has become a symbol of love and remembrance. Yet all of us have experienced what it feels like to be forgotten. To be remembered—especially to be remembered by our God—is our heart’s true desire. We find just such a story in the account of the crucifixion of Jesus. Luke tells us, “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with [Jesus] to be executed” (23:32). As they were being crucified, one criminal next to Christ suddenly understood. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom” (v. 42). Christ’s response was unforgettable: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43).

What an amazing moment! In his darkest hour, that criminal learned what it meant to be remembered by the Son of God.

We too are remembered in our hour of need. The God who loved us enough to die for us will never forget us.