“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs”
(1 Corinthians 13:4, 5).
Have you ever watched two little children fussing? One child breaks the other child’s toy, so the child whose toy is broken breaks something that belongs to the other child—just to get even. If an adult doesn’t intervene, the succession of broken toys can go on and on.
The Bible says that, unlike these naughty children, true love keeps no record of wrongs. Real love does not keep score. It does not remember the bad times in a relationship.
As women, we tend to have long-term memories. Our memories can be especially strong when they concern something between our husbands and ourselves. I think every woman I have ever met remembers her anniversary. Do our husbands always remember?
Women remember whether their husbands compliment them or not. We remember when husbands criticize us, too.
Some men accuse their wives of remembering every mistake they have ever made!
If we want to really learn to love, we must activate what I call the “ministry of forgetfulness.” We must purposely and actively refuse to recall the wrong things people have done to us, especially our husbands. Bringing to mind these bad memories doesn’t make a husband feel good, and it doesn’t build up trust in him.
The Bible says true love forgets. It keeps no record of wrongs.
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
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