They say that forgiveness is not the same as forgetfulness. But in my own experience, I’ve learned that sometimes, forgiveness involves some sort of forgetfulness. Why? Because as long as you bring to mind the injury that happened, your hurt is renewed over and over again and you do not have peace. You have peace only when you are able to move on, when that painful memory is healed by love.
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake;
and I will not remember your sins.” – Isaiah 43, WEBBE
Thinking about sin, whether our own or another’s, creates a spiritual fog that robs from us the sight of God’s beauty. Instead, we should seek God’s healing and strength on behalf of us all, and when we look at another who has fallen into sin, we should focus only on compassion and our own brokenness, longing for God’s healing for us both. Without this attitude, our own souls will trip and stumble into sin. Compassion is our protection.– All Shall Be Well
If I see people do anything which clearly seems to be sin, I cannot make up my mind that they have offended God; and if I dwell upon this at all,–which happens rarely or never,–I never can make up my mind, though I see it plainly enough . It seems to me that everybody is as anxious to serve God as I am. And herein God has been very gracious unto me, for I never dwell on an evil deed, to remember it afterwards and if I do remember it, I see some virtue or other in that person. – Life of St. TERESA of Avila