I read an interesting story and quote. First the story, then the quote.
Two friends were walking in the desert when an argument ensued. One slapped the other out of anger. The one who was slapped knelt down in the sand and wrote,
“Today my best friend slapped me in the face.”
They continued walking and came to an oasis, where they decided to bathe in the cool water. The one who had been slapped became stuck in some mire and was drowning, but his friend saved him. After recovery, he carved in stone:
“Today my best friend saved my life.”
The friend asked, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand, and now you carve on a stone. Why?”
The friend replied, “When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But then someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone, where no wind can every
erase it.”
Those are wise words. We say we forgive but often bring the garbage back up. Sadly, we also tend to remember the bad done to us more than the good which is done for us or to us.
Now the quote:
Once a woman forgives her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast. German actress Marlene Dietrich.
I also posted this on my other blog, Cycleguy’s Spin. I invite you to check it out here.
…Marlene Dietrich…a name I haven’t heard for a long time…
I used to be master of bring up the (forgiven – ??) paste. I took me a long time to retrain myself. Phew!
And I think we all tend to do this from time to time. Thank God for His Grace and Patience with us!
I most definitely agree with thanking God for his patience and grace. Glad you are able to forgive. Don’t you wish retraining was quicker? Then again, maybe we wouldn’t appreciate it as much if it were.
Such a meaningful story and lesson, Bill. We need to let go of the bad and cling to the good in each other.
Blessings!
Thanks Martha. You are so right in your comment.
Great Timeless Wisdom!
Thanks Ryan. Now…if I can just remember it. 🙂