Our memories can haunt us, and that is a good thing. It gives us a chance to do something stupid or wrong and reflect on it with the self-admonition of “I better never do THAT again.”  Sometimes it works, but humans being what they are, it often does not work out as planned.

St. Thomas Aquinas stated that one’s memory is part of the virtue of prudence. As we experience, we learn; as we remember our lessons, we make better decisions; as we make better decisions, we can live more like Jesus told us that we should. Prudence enables one to discern and direct what is right. Our memories can instruct us in ways to improve our actions.

The list of those with checkered pasts – to say the least – who became stalwarts in their faith include the prodigal son in the Bible, Saints Paul and Augustine, and Mary Magdelene to name but a few. The list is long. All of them recalled their pasts as part of the process to becoming the examples of faith that they became. They did not forget their pasts, but saw God’s grace in their own transformations from what they were to what they were becoming. Recall the lyrics, “Amazing grace / How great thou art / to save a wretch like me..”

Life’s instruction book is assembled, page by page, through our thoughts and actions and the lessons learned along the way. Our memories can play a significant role in affecting our decisions for the better. We should welcome them into our process of growth toward living rightly.