Being a kid of the 90s who was slightly obsessed with her grandparents VHS of Lion King the word remember just about always transports me back to the pivotal scene where the hero of the story steps up.
For those of you who don’t have it memorized, I will forgive you.
The scene starts with a kooky mandrill named Rafiki, which simply means “friend” in Swahili. He guides the young Simba through a dark, scary, challenging to navigate wooded area to a pool of water. Here Rafiki pushes the lion past his discomfort, to reflect on his father (*spoiler alert* who Simba thought he had killed) and in turn himself.
The lines spoken from the clouds by Mufasa, are words I often feel as though the Creator whispers to my spirit. “Remember who you are. You are my son [daughter].” In a span of 30 seconds the giant cloud in the sky urges Simba to remember. This wasn’t in chastisement but in a championing sort of way.
You know what remembering is difficult sometimes.
It is often tricky to see the good in yourself or in the situation you are in. Remembering why we chose to become a mom does not come easy. Nor does seeing the greatness of motherhood when we are worn out and buying into the lies we are hearing.
Another great line out of Mufasa’s mouth was,
“Look inside yourself [Simba] you are more than you have become.”
I believe that line is true of every human being on the planet. If there is still breath in our lungs I believe there is more in us. We have more light to share with the world around us.
Give me the honor in being the crazy walking stick carrying mandrill, your very own Rafiki, a friend, that beckons you to look within and remember. I will do my best to behave and not knock you upside the head as he does Simba but I make no promises. (I guess it’s a good thing this is a blog)
You, girlfriend, are so stinking valuable it is not even funny! I know it is hard to remember when you are buried in kids, their needs, their messes and messes of your own but you have to. You have great worth and remembering that fact is VITAL to life. The very fact that you have air passing through your lips means you have life to speak out still. Your words are a treasure for those in you charge. Speak life to your little people and to your very soul.
Me, Lauren aka Rafiki
And for those of you who like a bit of a biblical reminder:
Altars, festivals, laws in the old testament were all about REMEMBERING! When Jesus had the last super with his disciples and he took the bread and broke it and telling those with him to remember what it is He did for us on the cross. Time and time again the scriptures urge us to remember both who God is and who we are. There are many things I have doubted over the years in my faith journey but one thing has stuck: that the Creator of the universe didn’t put on flesh, die and rise again for us to forget that He gave us the power to overcome the world before us.
