There’s A Reason You Can’t Forget

Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you are stronger than whatever tried to hurt you - unknown

There are a million things on our minds day to day. Did you drop the kids off? Is there an appointment tomorrow? Do we need to buy more bread? I hope I finished my presentation right? They keep us running all day. But there are some things we wish we could forget. That heart break. That betrayal. That painful memory. We try to bury them in liquor, tv, hobbies, you name it. Whatever we can do to not remember that thing we want to forget. But it still lingers. It still stays fresh in our minds. Sometimes it even pops up at the worst time. Then you feel the anxiety, the fear, the sweats. But have you ever thought of what it would be like if they were gone completely. Washed away and wiped clean. 

For example, you will never forget the day as a kid you thought hugging a strange dog was a good idea and it bit you. Not that I’m saying every strange dog will do that. But in the case that this one did. Now imagine if you were to completely forget that memory. You would get excited and try it again and again and again. Sometimes it would be okay but other times not so much. How would you learn to ask the owner first if it's okay? How would you learn that some dogs love it and some don’t? No lesson would be learned and you would keep getting bit. At this point scars would come in handy because then looking at the marks all over your body would remind you that this is a very bad idea.

Here is a bad memory helping to save your life. 

That is one thing about scars. They are the remnant of a bad moment in your life. Whether they are physical or emotional. They are there to remind you of something that hurt you so that you stay away or proceed with caution. This is not only referring to dogs or a weak branch or a tough hike up a mountain. This also refers to people we deal with and decisions we make. I was in a relationship with someone whose purpose was to take advantage of me for their gain. It was a very draining relationship that I had to build myself back from once it was over. I wished many times for the memories of this relationship to be taken away. I prayed to God to wipe my brain clean so that I could feel joy again. I felt that was the only way I could move on.  But God told me something very important. He said if He wipes it clean how will I remember to not go back? How would I not go into another relationship with the same kind of person if I can’t recognize the red flags? How would I be able to warn someone else of these very red flags I wish to forget? 

Every scar has a lesson and every lesson makes us wiser. So as much as we want to forget the pain that was caused to us we actually need to remember. But please don’t remember it in a way for you to have revenge or wish evil on the other person or thing. That is where you take the next step of forgiveness. I know the phrase is to forgive and to forget but there are some things you should not forget but with all things you should absolutely without a doubt forgive. Forgiveness is that step that leads to peace and out of bitterness. It brings you back to love and light and away from hate and darkness. It is possible for that to happen even with the memories. Because God is the source of joy and love and light. So as much as we want to remind Him to help us forget everything, sometimes it’s best to remember.