 This
week’s Nugget of Truth
Back to the Treasure Box
FORGIVE BUT NOT FORGET
I hear this all the time. I mean,
yes I know it is good not to harbor anger forever and we are
called to forgive the people who have hurt us. But why is it
so necessary to not forget?
Because forgiving has enabled us to move on and in order to move
on we need to learn from our past. Every one of us has
been shaped and molded from past experiences, some joyful and
of course, some painful. Not forgetting is remembering who we
have become…stronger, smarter and redeemed.
Learning how to forgive is not easy. Notice the word learning. It
is a process. It is hard to forgive because it doesn’t
feel fair sometimes. And it usually is not automatic. But sooner
or later (probably a lot later) you realize, what’s the
use of remaining angry when all that is remaining is a reminder of
it? So, when you do get to the point of forgiveness isn’t “not
forgetting” still thinking about it? No, not really
because forgiveness opens the door of your heart and lets out
the hurt little by little. Choosing to not dwell on the
ugliness of it can actually allow more room in your heart and
mind for other more positive things to grow.
This holiday ponder over the true reason of the season. Don’t
let another day go by holding on to resentment or anger. If you
absolutely can’t forgive someone right now because of the
pain of it all, or maybe because it is so fresh, seek some counsel
and learn to let it out. If you are at a place where
you think you do want to forgive, go ahead, write a letter, make
a phone call and be amazed as the weight of it is slowly lifted
off your shoulders.
Have you made a choice to forgive someone recently? How did
it make you feel? Drop me a line and let me know what you have
lived and learned. Did you learn that it feels good to forgive?
Lara Davis
treasurebox@chicblvd.com
“If we really want (but all depends on really wanting)
to learn how to forgive, perhaps we had better start with something
easier than the Gestapo. One might start with forgiving one’s
husband or wife; or parents or children…for something
they have done or said in the last week. That will probably keep
us busy for the moment.”
C.S. Lewis
|
