Member-only story
“forgive and forget” or “forgive and not forget”?
God loves us, and he will love us for ever. He loves us infinitely, and he could not love us more than if we had never fallen. (Charles Spurgeon)
“forgive and forget” is the more romantic view. I embraced this romantic view when I was young and naive. As I grow older, “forgive and not forget” becomes more practical since I hardly ever can erase my memory. Trauma can be healed, but it will leave scars to remember. The idea of erasing or rewriting history is a repugnance for me. “forgive and not forget” is different than holding a grudge, which makes you bitter. “forgive and not forget” gives a new name and meaning to the fact. When Jacob received his new name, Israel, he was limping due to the injury to his hip. He even named the place Peniel (which means “face of God,” translated to Latin “Coram Deo”).
When he wakes up at dawn (sunrise in the east) to the vesper (sundown in the west), he will not forget how God gives him the privilege to wrestle with God. He can choose to complain about his disability or be thankful for his privilege and his new name because he has struggled with God and with humans and has overcome.
