A New York teenager was taking a bus tour through Arizona. The bus stopped at a restaurant along the highway for passengers to eat, stretch, and take in some of the scenery. The teenager strayed from the group, and came across a very old Native American sitting against a tree.

“What’s happening, pops?” spurted the teen.

The old man corrected him. “When you meet a Native American, you should say ‘how’, not ‘what’s happening pops.’ I am a very old and very wise person.”

“Oh yeah, just what makes you so smart?” asked the teen.

“My great memory,” the man answered.

“Oh yeah,” taunted the teen, “what did you have for breakfast May 10th, 1981?”

“Eggs,” the man replied.

The teen smirked and walked away. A few years later the same young man, now 21, was driving down the highway where he had met the old man. He could hardly believe it when he saw the man was still sitting there under the same tree. He doubted that the man would remember him as he stopped the car and walked toward the tree. This time the young man approached the old gentleman with respect.

“How,” said the young man.

“Scrambled,” replied the old fellow.

Some of us have memories like the man in our story. Not necessarily concerning all things, but certainly when it comes to other people’s mistakes, or times that we’ve been hurt. It seems we can hold on to these things forever. We say, “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget!” If we continue to dwell on the past, and things that have hurt us, how can we move forward? Sometimes we use it as an excuse not to achieve presently. We must remember that Jesus truly loves us, and cares about our hurts. He will take them away if we will allow Him to do so.

2 Corinthians 5:17 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.