“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13 NIV
“Forgetting is often where healing happens, and only you can make it so.”
My thoughts today ask, “Forget something? That’s a good thing!”
Forgetfulness is not always a bad thing. In fact, sometimes it is the best thing. There are things that you do not need to remember, things that only bring worry or pain, things for which you have no answer or explanation. Such things accumulate like so much trash, crowding out more profitable memories that edify and encourage. Do you ever remember what you should forget, and forget what you should remember?
In my home growing up, my chore was to take out the trash, and my Dad kept me reminded to do so. I guess I needed to hear a lot more, “Son, have you taken out the trash?” than my Dad should have needed to say. At our home now that is still one of my jobs. Every Friday is trash day. Newspapers and old mail are thrown away daily, but the garbage truck comes Friday morning, so Thursday after work is the time to gather all the things needing to be carried out and thrown away. My Dad taught me a valuable lesson about everyday life, whether or not that was his intent. I think life works better when you learn to take out the trash regularly.
Today is another New Year’s Eve. People across the globe will gather in private and public places to welcome in a new year. The world celebrates the end of each year in their wish for things being better in a New Year, different than they were. But wishing will not make that so. Things once done cannot easily be undone. The past can become a terrible prison where things hold you that you alone can no longer change.
The church gathers in homes or sanctuaries this New Year’s Eve, grateful to God that He has taken away the old mistakes and sins of our past, and given forgiveness and a new start in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, and all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5.17. Forgiveness without forgetting is not as freeing as God intends.
I love the story of Joseph. There was a lot of hurtful trash; some from his lack of wisdom, but much the family and others dumped on him. To survive and keep his dreams, Joseph had to learn how to take out the trash of his painful, unfair past. In Egypt, to Joseph was born two sons. Read Genesis 41:51-52 NIV. The first son, he named Manasseh, when he understood, “For God made me forget all my trouble.” Forgetting is often where healing happens. The second son, he named Ephraim, as he explained, “For God has made me fruitful in my suffering.” Counting your blessings is where celebrating begins.
Mistakes and mishaps, things you and others who may have said or done, may have shaped your appraisal of 2009, but you have the power of choice to greatly reshape a new year as God intends for you. A few days ago, a friend shared with me this Scripture for my new year, and now I give it to you, “His allowance was a continual allowance given him of the King, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.” 2 Kings 25:30 KJV. That’s what I pray for you everyday!
My prayer for you is: your review will see only good, and your expectation be for the best.