It is healing...thankfully. It wasn't my first accident like this. I pray it will be the last.
Recently, my family and I attended a wedding, in which our daughter was maid of honor. We anticipated a special day since many friends would be there. I had just returned home from out of state the night before and ran errands that morning. So it was no surprise that I was tired and rushed.
Then it happened. Why do curling irons and straighteners fall at the worst time? Years ago, I dropped one that fell into my eye! (Ironically, a warning tag soon appeared on all hair appliances after that emergency trip!) But this time it fell onto my foot...leaving a very obvious, blistering and painful burn. I immediately did what any responsible, supportive, driven Southern woman would do. I cleaned it up and put on my brand new dressy heels! Guess where the straps of those gorgeous darlings crossed? Yes...right across the freshly seared, oozing wounded area, of course. Oh, it definitely hurt...deeply. But what mattered most at a time like this...appearance or a wound?
Well, I couldn't exactly go to a wedding looking wounded, right? Yet weeks later, the scar remains. Was it really a matter of fashion taking a priority over my burning flesh? Or did I respond in a way most of us do more than we care to admit?
Somehow we have learned that it is acceptable and essential...to disguise...even deny...our wounds. We feel we are "weak" if we admit we are human. We have been taught that we are weak...failures...unfaithful...shameful...and shunned...if we hurt. After all, people of faith must smile continually, be strong exclusively and never, ever admit we are wounded, right? I don't think so.
I believe we live victoriously when we surrender ourselves to God. I believe that we always have hope in Him. I also know that our Lord hurt, bled, grieved and wept...yet trusted. My passion is to help the hurting because I believe, with all my heart, that God heals broken lives. He also works through those broken lives to touch other lives. It has been said, "God never wastes a hurt." I believe that. I cling to that. I have hope because of it.
Sometimes I wish we would allow ourselves to be more real, open, honest, tenderhearted and non-judgmental when it comes to wounds. Life is difficult. Hurting people surround us...everywhere. So why do we often feel...even fear...it is unacceptable to admit our wounds, our scars, our brokenness, our vulnerability, our pain?
God has often touched my life with people who genuinely care, understand, listen, love and have been wounded. Their faithfulness, healing and hope have encouraged me greatly. The wounded became His witnesses! The scarred pointed to the Savior! I pray that we will compassionately share His love with the wounded. May we never feel compelled to cover our wounds with dressy shoes. After all, in our weakness, He is strong...and that is a wonderful way to walk!♥~thl
2 Corinthians 1: 3>5, 2 Corinthians: 12: 8>10
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