Moving On Is Not Forgetting

Today, a brother and I passed a house and saw a gentleman standing outside. I looked over and said, “Man, that looks like Joe.” He immediately agreed. We even joked that maybe Joe had faked his own death just to get away from us.

My brother Joe passed away a little over a year ago. Within that same season, only about a month apart, my brother Felix also passed away.

That moment led us into a conversation about grief and the different ways we hold on to those we have lost. My brother shared that he had recently called Felix’s phone number. I told him that, until recently, I had kept an old text message from Felix on my phone.

I finally deleted it—not because I wanted to forget Felix, but because I realized that letting go of the message did not mean I was letting go of him.

Moving on is not forgetting.

It does not erase the memories, diminish the love, or lessen the impact that person had on our lives. It simply means we are choosing not to remain trapped in the past. We continue living in a way that would honor those who have gone before us.

Grief is personal, and everyone walks through it differently. There is nothing wrong with keeping a message, photograph, or special possession. The question is not whether we still have those things—the question is whether those things are comforting us or keeping us from moving forward.

When those we love die knowing Christ, we grieve with hope because we know this separation is not forever. We will see them again. Until then, we must continue living, loving, serving, and fulfilling the purpose God has placed before us.

Jesus said:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
—John 13:34 NKJV

The greatest way we can honor those we have lost is by carrying forward the love they gave us. Material possessions will eventually fade, but the love we show others can continue long after we are gone.

If you are grieving today, I am not telling you to rush. Take your time. Allow yourself to mourn, remember, and heal. But when the time comes, do not feel guilty for moving forward.

You are not leaving them behind. You are carrying their love with you.

Moving on is not forgetting. It is choosing to keep living while allowing their love to live on through you.

Have a blessed and joy-filled day!

Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.org