According to Think magazine, the human brain can store enough data to fill several million books, a capacity that makes modern computer storage seem insignificant. On the other hand, it is sad and frustrating when we or a loved one begins to lose our memory. Former President George Bush was touring a nursing home when he stopped to have a conversation with an elderly gentleman. The man replied, No, but if you ask them down at the nurses station, they ll tell you. There are some things we wish we could forget.
Memory can also be a curse.
Bad memories make us toss and turn at night. They can haunt our waking or sleeping. When we remember the death of a parent, spouse, or other family member, our grief and sadness leap to life again in the present. When we remember conflicts with friends, family, or fellow church members, we relive the pain and anguish of broken bonds of love. The memory of sins past can cause feelings of guilt, shame, and regret - and can become a curse in our lives no matter how hard we try to forget.