Old people, and people not that old, are often accused of hearing only what they want to hear. Truth be told, I think some teenagers can be accused of the same. “Clean your room”, seems to go in one ear and out the other. A bigger problem than selective hearing is selective memory. It is always interesting what people remember and what they forget. The sad thing is that we choose the things we want to remember and we forget the things that are not convenient.
The Bible has a number of passages that start with the words, “Forget not” or “Remind yourself”.
The book of Deuteronomy is full of these words. Deuteronomy 4:9 states: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.”
It is good to, from time to time, reminisce, reminding ourselves of all God has done for us. To ponder all the little miracles of yesterday becomes the fertiliser for tomorrow’s miracles. It is so easy to end a good marriage, focusing on a few issues and forgetting all the wonderful times.
By counting our blessings, we build up strength to hold on, waiting for tomorrow. If we forget all God and other people have done for us, we lose hope for the future. Forgetting is part and parcel of forgiving. Even God, the Bible says, puts our sins in his sea of forgetfulness.
