Be Healthy, Well, & Inspired

The picture above was taken by me on November, 2009 in Medford, Massachusetts

I wanted to share a story that my cousin sent me 6 years ago. For the past 6 years, this story has always stumped me until this year, I finally got it.  I always remembered that she gave me this story and last year in December,  I decided to look for it. I remembered I printed it out so I went through my boxes of papers. It is also an “Aha” moment for me. I realized that the pain I went through 5 years ago made me re-evaluate my life and my priorities.  My life-changers:  I quit my consulting job where I traveled every week to my client site.  I moved to Riverdale where there were trees and quietness.  I started taking personal development workshops.  I started journaling twice a day, everyday.  I met Sandy Grason, author of Journalution.   I wanted to become a life coach and enrolled at the International Coach Academy.    And, I said good-bye to two girlfriends who were not able to maintain our friendship of the caliber I needed at the time.   I don’t think I would be thinking about my values and my life purpose  if I did not have that pain, feeling of emptiness and loneliness.

So, here I am 5 years later and I feel so much stronger now.   And here is the story:

A young lady was singing opera one day and her instructor watched and listened with excitement as she hit every note perfectly. Sitting next to the music instructor was the gentleman who wrote the opera and so she decided to share her enthusiasm with him. “She’s great, isn’t she?” She whispered. He replied, “She’ll be even better when someone comes along and breaks her heart.”

Pain is one of the inevitable experiences of human existence. Our pain is the most effective tool that God uses for growing us up spiritually. Let’s face it, we do not grow or mature unless we are being hurt. The deeper God hurts us, the more effectively He can use us. It seems unfair and unjust, but it is reality.

Let me give three reasons for us to rejoice when we are hurting. First, when we hurt, God is getting our attention for our own benefit. He is trying to communicate with us. Second, when we hurt, God is preparing us for a special purpose. He is getting us ready for something that will give us fulfillment, bring goodness to someone else, and bring glory to God. Third, God has a special blessing waiting for us at the end of our hurt. Remember, nothing happens to us unless God allows it with a good purpose in mind so “…count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (Jas 1:2). Think about it.

Tags: pain, poem