For the first time in 15 years, I forgot to write my column. This morning, it hit me like a lightning bolt—I forgot! So here I am, playing catch-up.

Forgetting isn’t fun. It puts us under pressure and leaves us scrambling. Missing a column might not ruin my life, but forgetting something important, like your spouse’s birthday or your anniversary? That can lead to some real trouble. Thankfully, I haven’t forgotten those… yet. But hey, it happens to the best of us.

Have you ever forgotten something big? A loved one’s birthday? Filing your taxes? Doing your homework? Sometimes we forget because we’re distracted or overwhelmed, but other times, maybe we want to forget.

There are things we’d rather not remember: a bad date, a failed relationship, a terrible job, or a traumatic event. Some memories stick with us no matter how much we want to let go. Maybe it was a bad surgery or a car accident—those experiences tend to linger.

Some people turn to alcohol or drugs to escape their memories, but that’s not a real solution. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to forget.

Then there are those who seem determined to remind you of every mistake you’ve ever made. A true friend won’t do that. A true friend lets your past stay in the past. But an enemy—or even just a toxic person—will dredge up your old failures whenever they get the chance. You don’t need people like that in your life.

Surround yourself with friends who let bygones be bygones. We all make mistakes, but dwelling on them doesn’t help anyone.

Thankfully, God forgives and forgets. Micah 7:19 says, “He will bury our sins in the depths of the sea.” Once they’re buried, they’re gone—no fishing them out again. God doesn’t drag our past mistakes back to the surface, and we shouldn’t either.

If you’ve made mistakes, learn from them and move forward. Let your loved ones do the same. Let’s forgive, forget, and live in the present.

And as for me? I’ll do my best to remember my column next week.