"Do you forgive and forget?"

Our school system was integrated when I was in 5th grade. Carlton had never had a white friend before me, but we became friends despite the daily bomb threats and riots. We haven’t seen each other since high school graduation, but recently Carlton and I got back together. And he told me this story.

My dad gave me a really nice pen. Carlton loved that pen probably more than I did so I let him take it home one weekend. Well, his little sister found the pen and while playing with it, broke it. Carlton says he was so ashamed and hurt to have to bring it back to me that way, but he did anyway. He explained what had happened, and says that I said, “It’s okay. I forgive you.” And we went on through the next seven years together without my ever mentioning it again.

Frankly, I don’t remember that happening at all and I told Carlton I’d just have to take his word for it. And he said, “Well, that means you really did forgive me. You forgot about it, too.”

Tell someone “It’s okay, I forgive you” today as you listen to life.