History can be painful, but denying it does not serve the greater good. Whether we are discussing our families, neighborhoods, faith communities, or our nation, the past must be approached with a spirit of learning, love, and forgiveness.
For example, my sister and I often remember our upbringing differently. Today we can discuss those differences without tension, but that was not always the case. In the past, when I spoke about some of the painful or difficult parts of our childhood, she sometimes felt that I was overlooking or dismissing the love, sacrifice, and care our parents provided.
That was never my intention.
I love my family, and I honor the sacrifices our parents made. However, there were experiences that affected me deeply, and in some cases my sister denied that those experiences occurred or viewed them very differently than I did. While she focused more on the loving and sacrificial aspects of our upbringing, I felt the need to acknowledge both the good and the painful.
Doing so was not about assigning blame. It was about gaining a better understanding of myself, my family, and why certain behaviors and patterns existed. Looking honestly at the past helped me understand not only who I had become, but also some of the experiences and circumstances that shaped my family members. It also helped me recognize how much Jesus Christ has healed, delivered, and strengthened us despite those experiences and circumstances.
Both perspectives have value. We can appreciate the good while also acknowledging the difficult. One does not cancel out the other.
The same principle applies to America's history. When we tell the truth about the Transatlantic slave trade, the enslavement of Africans, and the brutality that existed throughout portions of our nation's history, it is not meant to erase those who opposed slavery, stood with the enslaved, or worked to advance justice and human dignity. Nor is it meant to condemn people living today for the sins of previous generations.
Rather, it is an effort to understand our history honestly. Just as acknowledging painful experiences in a family does not erase the love that also existed, acknowledging the painful chapters of America's history does not erase the courage, sacrifice, and noble contributions of those who sought to do what was right. Truth allows us to see both.
Only when we are honest about the past can we fully appreciate how far we have come, understand why some challenges remain, and work together toward a better future.
An honest examination of history is not about assigning guilt. It is about gaining understanding. Understanding helps us learn. Learning helps us grow. Growth helps us avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
History should neither be idolized nor erased. It should be remembered honestly, examined carefully, and discussed graciously. Only then can it serve as a teacher rather than a weapon. Truth does not have to be feared. When approached with humility and grace, it can become a pathway to understanding, healing, and reconciliation.
Selah.