Forgetting Mistakes

I came across a scripture verse from Proverbs recently and was greatly impressed by the clarity of direction it gave for me.  The verse is found in Proverbs 17:9 and it says, "Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends." I love the boldness of that truth!  And the applications of it are endless.

My first thought of where to apply that verse was to marriage.  I don't know if you can relate, but I find it much easier at times to forget the mistakes of my children than those of my husband.  Reflecting on this verse, brings the words of an older country song by Garth Brooks to mind.  The song was called "We Bury the Hatchet" and in the song he sings, "It's getting to the point we can't get along, we are always fighting about things that should be dead and gone...We bury the hatchet but leave the handle sticking out...we are always digging up things we should forget about.  When it comes to forgiving, there ain't no doubt, we bury the hatchet but leave that handle sticking out."  I realize that might be more country than most want and there is not a biblical point to his song BUT the application is fantastic.  If we won't fully "bury"or "forgive" or "forget" our husbands' mistakes (or anyone else's for that matter) then we are not walking in the true love that God would call us to be in.  AND the second part of that verse in Proverbs is just as important, if we keep nagging, it can part the best of friends.

The other day I shared a serious and somewhat sorrowful conversation with one of our children, who was asking why so many people don't stay married.  I tried to share a simple answer, so not to burden them with the sad realities of our world, but one of the reasons we discussed included a lack of forgiveness.  It had to! So many people that we have watched walk away from marriage are making the choice because of seemingly petty offenses that they don't feel they can "put up with" any longer.  Then there is the flip side - we have watched the beauty of spouses stay by and work to heal their marriage after incredible tragedy and horrible choices of the opposite spouse.  That brings great joy and inspiration to my heart.

So, what are you finding you are tempted to fight about with your spouse that should be dead and gone?  What handle of which hatchet do you need to stick all the way into the ground and bury for good?  Don't try to suppress frustrations in your own strength - give that specific issue to God, choose to forgive and ask God to heal your heart of the pain.  He will do it!