Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. One day a friend reminded her of a particularly hateful thing someone had done to her years before. When she ignored the comment and acted as if she had never heard of it, her friend called the conversation back.

“Don’t you remember that?” She asked.

“No,” said Barton. “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”

Forgiveness really does involve remembering to forget some things. Oh, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will erase the memory of what happened. That may not be possible. But to forgive someone means you will thereafter treat that person as if he had never done the wrong thing to you in the first place.

Rubel Shelly The FAX of Life