I seen a lot of posts today with the catch phrase "Never Forget".
Today is the anniversary of 9/11. I do not believe there is an American who was not touched emotionally bad day. I remember the sadness and the hopelessness I felt as I sat holding my two young daughters that morning. I remember the heartache that I felt as I visited the 9/11 Memorial in Washington DC and the crash site of Flight 93.
"Never Forget" is an interesting sentiment. I don't think any of us who live through that day could ever forget. However, I feel it is very important that we remember what we should remember, and forget what we need to forget.
No one needs to remember the hatred and the anger. I was recently sitting in a lecture by Michael Wilcox, a LDS teacher, and a man who has tremendous insight into Christ and His life and mission. Brother Wilcox spoke of his great amount of time traveling the world, especially in the Middle East. He spokes of how with each person he is met, he can see the light of Christ in them. He can see the divine nature that comes with being a child of God, even when they don't know that they are such. He repeated something numerous times during the lecture that stuck with me. He stated the solution to the wars and turmoil of this world could be solved in one generation if only the parents love their children more and they hate their enemies. I never heard such a concept, so I pondered it for quite some time. As I pondered my love for my children, as well as the anger I feel towards those who have hurt me, I think I finally understand.
As I let my love for my children and my family touch every part of my heart and every part of my life, I become changed. I begin to recognize others as someone's child, as someone who does not need to be perfect, just as my children and I am not perfect. I can make peace with their shortcomings, as I realize God accepts me, and my shortcomings. I began to recognize each person as a Child of God. Frustrations I feel towards anyone (be it someone who has hurt me, or someone who simply cuts me off) become less, and the love I feel towards everyone grows. As I watch the disasters in the world, I find my heart looking for do what I can to help and ease their burdens. I find myself wanting to protect everyone I can in anyway possible. This means I believe any wars should be entered into very hesitantly, because the soldiers fighting are simply someone's children. I do believe that if we all honestly loved our children more then we hated our enemies worldwide, the world would find peace. I will be forgetting the hatred and anger, but "never forgetting" to love.
There is some sadness that comes when we remember, and unlike hatred, there is good that comes from holding onto the sadness. The sadness reminds us at the pain and hurt that is found when we let hatred lead the way, such as those who committed the crimes on that day. The sadness reminds us to show love and sympathy to those hurting, whether it be due to this tragedy, or any other tragedy in their lives. The sadness reminds us to act with compassion. The sadness reminds us to act like Christ at that time when Mary and Martha were crying over the death of Lazarus. Jesus wept. He knew in the long run everything would be fine; He knew He had arrived to help; and yet, Jesus allowed His compassion and His love to show, and allowed Himself to share in their burden and their pain. The sadness I will remember.
I choose to remember the heroic acts. When we hear the acts of Flight 93, who decided to take down the plane rather than let those trying to hurt others succeed; when we hear the stories of the rescue workers going in and out of the buildings; when we hear those stories of the every day men and women saving each those around them who needed help; these are stories that should never be forgotten. These are stories that remind us to act heroically every day of our lives. These stories remind us that there are things more important then even our earthly life. They remind us of the brother and sister hood that we should all feel towards each other. They remind us to act with love and charity. They remind us in the face of disaster, to bond with one another and unite. They remind us that we not only need to show love to those we know well and care for, but we need to show love to the strangers, and to any brothers or sisters who stand in need of our help.
Michael Wilcox also spoke of the dream he had. In this dream, he was seated speaking with Jesus. Brother Wilcox stated Jesus would ask me how I did with loving my fellow men. I would state "I tried". Brother Wilcox said, they would sit and watch parts of his life, and Jesus would say "You succeeded". Brother Wilcox stated, he would then reply, "Master, sometimes I failed." Then enumerate to his Savior all of the shortcomings and failures he felt he had committed. The Savior would turn to him, and state "I do not remember that."
Never forget what's important. Never forget those things that lift us up and bring us closer to being like our all loving Heavenly Father. Never forget the lessons we have been taught in showing charity and love to all of our fellow man.
But Forget the hatred. Forget the anger. Forget the prejudice. There is no need to pollute our minds and souls with such feelings. Those feelings don't bring us any closer to our Heavenly Father, nor to Jesus Christ. Forget those feelings, and let them wash away. Let your soul soar on the love from our Heavenly Father, rather than be shackled down by hatred and anger.
Never forget the things that are important to remember; And never remember the things that are important to forget.
The quotes by S. Michael Wilcox were from his talks Defining Femininity and The Crystal Staircase, BYU Education week 2014. Any discrepancies were due to the authors lack of an eidetic memory.
