Forget: Is it the Best Way to Forgive?

                                Many people say, “To forgive is to forget” but is forgetting really the best way to forgive others? If I would be ask that question, honestly, I don’t think that forgetting is the best way to attain forgiveness. Maybe it could be the easiest way but for me it is not the best. Let me elaborate it with a story of mine.

                                It was not a long time when it happened. It is between me and my friend. My friend likes joking and making fun of some people’s mistakes or clumsiness. In that moment I was the center of his joke. At first I didn’t mind those teases and mocks because I knew he was just joking me out but as time pass by my patience got shorter and shorter until it was totally used up. I walked out of the place and then went to one corner easing my anger. After quite time he peeks at me if I’m all right then go back to his pranks and still gets me into those jokes. At the end of the day, I think he already realized what he did and finally felt sorry for it. Although I forgave him the next day, I still can’t forget what he did. Because at that time he really offended me and didn’t even think of my feelings if he will throws his jokes at me.

                                I know that there are really times that we cannot forget the people who did unpleasant things to us, but at the end of the day the best thing to do is to forgive. In the Bible, Luke 23:24, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” It says here that even Jesus learns to forgive. So if Jesus knows how to forgive, then why couldn’t we?