Forgiveness Like a Child

In his book, "Lee: The Last Years," author Charles B. Flood tells the story of a post Civil War encounter between the South's war general and a lady from Kentucky. General Robert E. Lee was taken by the lady to the remains of a once majestic tree in her front yard where she cried with bitter remorse that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Union artillery fire. 

General Lee contemplated the situation for a brief moment. This lady was looking for his condemnation of the north. So he spoke, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it."

"Forgive and forget" is what they tell us. Or was it, "Kiss and make up," or "Bury the hatchet"? Regardless of what they say, is it realistic?

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