It is not until our own hearts are pierced that we can begin to know the suffering. —Sarah Minturn Sedgewick—
Our own painful experiences serve a worthy purpose. They make possible our understanding of another’s pain. In turn, we are able healers to one another because we have shared the experience of pain. Being present to another’s sorrow or suffering is like a healing balm, lessening the burden, the intensity of pain.
However, healing is only possible after the pain has been acknowledged, internally embraced, and then released by injured person. Frequently, we seek freedom from all pain. But pain stretches us, pushes us to grow, to develop new levels of ourselves. Pain promises us unexpected pleasure. It also requires patience of us. We have many lessons to learn in life, and each one is generally punctuated by a stab of pain. It’s within our power to rejoice even when the pain is felt. It isn’t without purpose.
The pain I may experience today can teach me and heal me, if I allow it to.