CREATED TO FLY

"Pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if it's left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place." Wm. Paul Young

Pain in one of those things in life that does not discriminate. And while it may be one thing we all have in common, how we get through it seems to differ. I came across this quote in the book that I'm reading and it reminded me of a couple really important lessons about pain. I hesitated sharing anything except the quote because I don't want to distract it's message but here are a few quick thoughts.

It is okay to embrace it and let it sink in for awhile. My experiences have taught me that it is so important to face it, meet it, shake it's hand and welcome it in for a little bit. Get to know it, hear where it came from and figure out the best way to show it to the door.  Pretending the wounds that it creates aren't there or aren't as deep as they truly are, only invites it to settle in for one more cup of tea and a longer stay. It is so important to allow ourselves to feel. And to acknowledge that it hurts. Sometimes real bad. But it becomes dangerous when we do not ask it to leave - when it's temporary stay becomes more of a permanent fixture in our lives.  We were created to fly. And even if it takes help from outside sources - friends, family, God, time, whatever - we will fly if we choose to. We need to feel it in order to find our ground so that we can take the leap. And as we take the leap, the pain is actually what gives us the strength to soar. Sometimes to places we never imagined.