Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

Isaiah 43:25 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
25 "I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.

I few years ago I heard a wonderful story about forgetfulness on the air, and wrote it down in my journal.

An email had been sent in to CBC radio by a listener in response to a show about preacher's kids. The man who told the story had been a preacher's kid himself. The incident in the story took place years later when the church that he'd grown up in was celebrating a special anniversary.

The man's parents were by this time living in a nursing home and they asked him if he would drive them to the church. His father was 95 years old and his mother was disabled as a result of a stroke.

As they entered the church, his mother's recollection of people was dimmed until she came face to face with her old nemesis whom he referred to as, "Mrs. Meanie." A flicker of recognition passed over her face and she said, "I know you!" The other woman, who was suffering the effects of a stroke of her own, said, "I know you!" -- and they embraced.

As well as being a funny and touching story, it made me wonder if that's what heaven will be like. Will we just recognize each other, forgetting any hurts? How unimportant they really are after all, and how wonderful it would be if only we would choose to have that perspective down here.

Lord, I thank you for speaking to me through this true story. Help me to be forgetful of little hurts and not prone to nurse them.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hope Heaven is like that because I know that in my ignorance, while growing up in Christ, I have offended a few people. If I haven't received their forgiveness yet, it would be wonderful to meet them in Heaven and for them to have forgotten my mistakes that hurt them. Hopefully, this article will encourage us to let by-gones be by-gones because we are all still growing up in Christ.
1:01 PM
Belinda said…
Brenda,I'm sure that's what heaven will be like. We will be lost in wonder and love and the atmosphere of heaven will be such that nothing of earth will come with us--including hurts--just good stuff.
8:37 PM
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