PAIN

"As long as you make an identity for yourself out of pain, you cannot be free of it." ~Eckhart Tolle


One of my favorite blogs is Storybooks for healing. They post on FB often and I find the many of their quotes and thoughts tug at my heartstrings and say things that I had not yet found words for. This was one. Grief. Pain. In whatever form it has taken in your life, does not define who you are. In my case letting it define me could benefit me in some ways. . . Remembering the moments, the people, the event, and the lessons are very important and are partially responsible in molding us into who we are today and to acknowledge and to be grateful for that is very important. For we are not the same people that we were last year, the year before and the year before that. We change day to day and especially after traumatic experiences. But to let pain define who you are daily, is suicide for the soul. The balance of remembering the pain and sorrow that refines you, while not letting it define you is a delicately complex and ongoing journey... Pain will always be present. It will always hurt. It will be a part of creating you. But IT is NOT YOU.

Happiness is not found until YOU ARE.

The 23rd Psalm

The 23rd PSALM 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. My mother in law would recite this subconsciously as she lay in bed suffering through the last stages of breast cancer. It was more audible when she was more awake, of course. But there came a time when she was on pain medication consistently, even though she tried her best the entire fight to not use medication. In those times her words were slurred, lips barely moving. But those of us who knew her, knew her recitation. I hope that one day, when my mind is cloudy and my body is near the end, that I will be this kind of woman. The kind whose spirit and heart ar so engrained in Christ that I will also willingly and unkowingly sing His praises in my darkest hours.