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Pain’s Opportunity

As a newly-minted grandmother, I think about opportunities to pass wisdom on to Sweet E when he’s old enough.  And life is one big lesson, isn’t it?

Last week I received news that a lifelong friend’s mother was going into hospice care.  Not the news any of us wanted to hear.

Some days are tough, aren’t they?  You try to pick yourself up, you try to avoid focusing on the tribulations, you try to smile through the pain, you try to convince yourself things aren’t that bad, you fill your head with grace-laden platitudes, yet…

I propose instead of pretending that the pain doesn’t hurt, instead of side-stepping the obvious, instead of lying to ourselves, instead of betraying the truth, we embrace our agony with faith, thereby gaining at the very least, a new perspective, but on the higher end, possibly something even more valuable.

Pain's Opportunity

Will the new perspective fix the situation at hand?  Most likely not.  Life is never that simple.  Then why even try?  Because, there is more to gain from truth than there is to gain from deception.   Accepting what is, instead of wishing it to be something it isn’t, is powerful.

I am not suggesting, by the act of accepting what is, that we are changing our pain into something magically better; I’m merely suggesting that the acknowledgement of what is, can help us to move through the situation in a way that allows us gain, instead of loss.

It isn’t an easy task to embrace our agony.  Wrapping pain in pretend-happiness makes the torment more palatable.  We’ve all done it.  No one wants to deal with pain, no one wants the mess of our pain to get on others, no one wants to be that person mired in the muck.

Yet, truth reigns supreme, even if it comes in the form of pain.  Pain can be many awful things, but it can also be the amazing place where we refine our beliefs.  It takes faith to face the darkness of pain, rather than disguising it as light for a fleeting respite.

What’s the upside to embracing what is instead of trying to convince yourself of what isn’t?

Unrealistic expectations evaporate.  Unnecessary drama retreats.  Lies dissolve.  Pride is tamed.  Humility reigns.  Wisdom grows.  Self-respect emerges.  Strength is forged.

This life is tough.  We cannot change the fact that we will experience pain, but I’m suggesting that we use our pain for something bigger, rather than allowing it to use us.

The news that a beloved mother will pass too soon from our lives is a heart-breaker, but accepting the hardness of this truth, as it is, offers my suffering soul some peace.

As the days pass, may we find our pain diminished and our joy remembered.

 

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Carol Covin

Saturday 25th of May 2013

I'm so sorry for your friend. There are no words to console someone on such a loss. The only solace I found when my mother had a stroke and died 2 1/2 years later was to do everything I could that could possibly be done to make her end time happy. That comforted me afterwards.

Mrs. Tucker

Saturday 25th of May 2013

I think this is exactly what they are doing. Thank you.

Beverly

Thursday 23rd of May 2013

I am truly sorry to hear about your friend's mother. I have been going through something very similar for some time now. It is hard, very hard. I also live with a very painful muscular disorder. Your words are beautiful and well said. I think they apply not only to heartbreak but also chronic physical pain. As of late I have been coming to a new set of terms with what has happened to me with my illness. There is a certain strength that comes from looking your pain straight in the face and not backing down. Accepting and seeing it for what it is rather than believing it will somehow magically go away. In that strength comes the will to continue and to find those things in life that make you, well you.... Thank you for your words they came right when they were supposed to for me....

Mrs. Tucker

Friday 24th of May 2013

What a beautiful tribute to your strength. It's an easy concept, to think of pain as an opportunity, yet the doing is difficult to begin. I pray your road may ease and that you remain courageous in the face of your pain.

Kim @ 2justByou

Wednesday 22nd of May 2013

Excellent post. I'm so sorry to hear the news about your friend's mother. Sometimes life isn't fun at all. I really like the message in your post. Acceptance of what is, is important. ~Kim

Mrs. Tucker

Wednesday 22nd of May 2013

Thank you for such a lovely comment. It's tough, no doubt.

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