From Pain to Passion and Purpose

What a nice shiny box all covered with glitter and gold being presented before me. I can’t imagine how great this must be. I will just wait until I get home to unwrap it. I must be really special to receive a gift because I didn’t even ask for one and it isn’t a special day. It is wrapped so nicely, I don’t really care what is inside. I loved my shiny gift, wrapped so perfectly just for me. I treated it like treasure, placing it on the mantle for the entire world to admire. Everyone should know that this is mine, all mine.

Over time the glitter began to fall first exposing the gold that had lost its luster. Each day as I handled it, I noticed that this might not be gold at all. There is no more shine. One day while holding my treasure a knife protruded from the side, piercing my heart. No problem, I will just repair the damage and love the box more so it won’t do that again. I will cover it in a thick wrapping of care and concern and edification. While I am at it, let me place a shield of armor over the piercing on my heart. Let me shield the lesson and protect it for future reference. I won’t ever forget where that knife came from and how it hurt.

I don’t understand! How did this knife get through my wrapping? How did it find the unshielded place of my heart? Pierced again. Time and again I re-wrap the box with thicker wrappings of love. I even put some glitter on it to make it feel special. Time and again I place another piece of armor over the piercing until there isn’t anymore of my heart exposed. I am all out of wrapping for my gift. I have nothing left to give. So I look inside my heart behind all the armor. Maybe there is something there I can give. I find lesson after lesson after lesson. When I covered it, there was hurt but when I returned to my heart, it was healed.  My heart thanked me and I was puzzled.

My heart spoke:

            I am so full of love as I always have been. I was broken when you neglected me for your new treasure. From me flows the springs of life; I determine your life’s direction. No other treasure can take my place. I thank you for shielding me. It gave me time to heal. The armor protected the purpose that I hold for you. With each piercing, more purpose. It is safe now. You won’t hurt anymore. Take off the armor. Release your passion. Walk in your purpose. I love you. One last thing…

Next time unwrap the box before you take it home.

The Silent Sufferer

So often we find out the things people are dealing with after a tragedy. The common remark from people close to a situation is "I had no idea that was going on". It is so sad to realize that with billions of people on this earth that people still suffer in silence. People from youth to seasoned adults choose to keep their pain and sorrow hidden and harbored. There could be several reasons why we suffer in silence. As youth, it is often the belief that no one will believe me. As adults we may feel as though we brought the situation on ourselves due to our choices. The most despairing thought is that no one cares or nothing will change anyway. People subscribe to the belief that what goes on in the house, stays in the house causing those inside the house to suffer in silence, behind closed doors and covered windows. It is human nature to only want people to know the good we do and hide our faults and demons. If your faults are causing physical or emotional harm to others, don't hide them and don't expect others to hide them, GET HELP!

Your happiness matters. Your safety matters. Your life matters. Your well being matters. Your physical well being, your emotional well being, your mental well being....it matters. Don't suffer in silence to protect image, titles, positions, egos, reputations. Not yours and not theirs. If you are hurting, tell someone that you are hurting. If you are being hurt, tell someone. Don't continue to suffer in silence. 

Love Y'all!!!