959) Forgiveness is a wonderful bag filled with grace, but this bag is heavy. To choose to forgive is a difficult thing and an often misunderstood step that is necessary for healing. When people thoughtlessly throw out the phrase, forgive and forget, if you give these words any consideration, you know no human can do such an act. Forgiveness isn’t in the forgetting, it’s in the figurative releasing the throat of someone who has harmed you. The forgetting part may never happen.

In the consideration of forgiving trespasses against us, have you considered that even if someone has forgiven you for something, it also means that they may not forget what you said or did? This is a natural consequence of this life and having to live with what you did is also the result that follows.

In Acts 9:26, Saul, later to become Paul, also has to live with his unforgotten poor choices. There were many who were afraid of him because of the things he did against Christianity. After his conversion, repentance and forgiveness, Paul has to live with the fact that people don’t forget.

Even though others may forgive us for things we have done, it’s good to remember that they won’t necessarily forget it. If we can think about this before we act, maybe we wouldn’t have to live with so many of the fruits of our poor choices.