Welcome to Mega Memory Month (MMM) Progress Report #3.Please note that if I counted correctly, we have 15 days left in January counting today (Monday). I thought I’d mention it, in case you’re running a little behind (like I am).If you’re just stopping by, you can learn more about Mega Memory Month by clicking on this highlighted link. Visit our previous progress reports by clicking below:
Each Progress Report is an opportunity to encourage one another along the way and celebrate our progress.How are you doing? Has it come easily or are you facing struggles?Check in using Linky Tools if you write a Progress Report on your own blog (you can link up any time during the week).Or just talk to us in the comments.
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Ann’s MMM Progress #2
I wish I were a more consistent, sequential, dependable personality. Instead of possessing those admirable traits, I’m known more for curiosity, creativity and spontaneity.The first set of personality traits are better suited for memory work.But I’m reminded of a recent conversation—okay, so it might have been more of a parental lecture—with one of my teen daughters who brought home disappointing semester grades in two major subject areas.I said, “When you realize your areas of weakness, you don’t shrug your shoulders and say, ‘I’m just not good at that.’ You figure out how to make up for it by working harder. If you’re not organized, you come up with some kind of system to compensate. If math doesn’t come easily, you study twice as hard. If you don’t understand the material in a chapter, you read it and discuss it with others, make vocab cards and drill them until you’ve got them down.”As I lectured my daughter on all of this, I realized I needed to hear it myself. If memorizing doesn’t come naturally due to my personality traits, I need to figure out how to make up for it.A recent problem I faced was that my inconsistent self let two days pass without reviewing the passage.Humbled and frustrated, I pulled out my cards and reviewed them over and over. I repeated them in my head. I tried to visualize them on the cards.
Now, here is my imperfect attempt at recalling the words of John 15, starting at verse 18:
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.Remember the words I spoke spoken to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken these words to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, I they have no excuse for their sin.Whoever He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated hate both me and my Father. (I don’t know…) But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also will must testify about me, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Like I said, we have 15 days left, including today (Monday). I have 17 verses left to memorize. I’m a little behind, but I did memorize the first few verses a year ago. Hopefully I’ll recall those without too much difficulty.Also, I think that starting at the end and working my way verse by verse toward the beginning fits the non-sequential part of my personality.I’m getting there. I just need to keep at it.What techniques work best for you and how far along have you gotten?(Check out my Mega Collection of Memorization Tips & Techniques for more ideas.)
Great progress, Ann! Here’s to finishing well for our Father’s glory. *raising my glass of water*
Be abundantly blessed,
Ruth
Boy, I needed to hear your parental instructions! The first weeks of 2011 have done wonders to show me my weak spots (and not just in memorization). Thanks for the prodding. I’m reminded that I have the power of the resurrected Christ at work in me to will and to act according to His good pleasure—therefore, no reason to whip out or be discouraged.
And nice work so far on your verses.