In this time of gift-giving, I am reminded that sometimes gifts can be found in the most unusual places.
We all have pain, crises and suffer. Nobody wants these hurtful experiences, certainly I know that I don’t, and I don’t want them for anyone else; however, many years of experience have taught me that there are often priceless gifts to be found in even the most painful experiences.
Without minimizing the very real pain of emotional crises, I know that such experiences can bestow great gifts on us. A wise friend of mine used to say “the gift is in the wound”. I hated that saying…who wants to be wounded? But she was right.
Emotional crises often show us just how strong we can be. They cause us to dig deep inside ourselves, stretch way beyond our comfort zone and grow in ways we were not planning. Sometimes it means learning how to ask for help, or awakening to the people and blessings in your life you may have been taking for granted, or learning that you can count on yourself. It may mean finding a new way to communicate, a new way to handle pain, or changing something about the way you’ve been doing things.
While my wish for all of you in the New Year is a peaceful and joyful future, I know that crises and pain are unfortunate parts of reality. I wish for you that you will come through the challenges you face as painlessly as possible and with a new appreciation for your strength, abilities and blessings.
