Skip to main content

Suffering

It really is true that you can't know what someone else is feeling or where they're living if you've never walked in their shoes....and of course, we can't walk in those shoes with another, no matter how much we'd like to.

However, there is something powerful in hearing assurances like "I love you and just wanted you to know that".

I have to be honest and say I wasn't very good at showing mercy, love and understanding before my husband Paul's 56-day stay in critical care 250 miles from home before his journey to Heaven. It would have been next to impossible for me to go through those days and nights without reassurances over and over and over again that I wasn't alone. I admit I don't remember many of those pieces of advice that were offered...but I never fail to remember with a grateful heart those kind and comforting "I'm walking as close to you and with you as I can", "I hurt with you", "I'm so sorry this is happening" promises.

I see suffering differently now....I believe that because I was comforted in my darkest hour, I can comfort others in a far deeper way.

Suffering is hard...for me, knowing I'm not walking that road alone is a great strength...and a good "teacher".

Comments

  1. pauladayjohns-letmetellyouonethingJune 6, 2011 at 12:16 PM

    Ann that is very encouraging and I do pray that if and when those times come I will have that strength also!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sue DuffieldJune 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    "Walk A Mile In My Shoes", the song, comes to mind. Also Henry Nouwen says, "The true test of any Christian, is in suffering - not success." You have learned much, my friend - and I'm thrilled that God is using you to impart your journey and compassion to others.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Melinda LancasterJune 7, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    Hi Ann:

    Your post makes me think of II Cor. 1:3-4. In The Message it reads this way: "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us."

    I'm so thankful for the ways that God has brought comfort to my/our lives during times of suffering & for the way He allows me/us to pass that comfort along to other during hard times.

    Nothing is wasted in God's economy.

    PS: I met you briefly about 15 years ago in the Boro. My husband was filling in on the guitar for the group that opened for you. I bought an "angel prayer watch" which I still have. Nice to reconnect via the i-net.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From here to there

A lot of you are familiar with or at least know of my only niece, Scarlett (or Sweet Scarlett, as I often refer to her). A brilliant gal in the prime of her life and career was involved in a horrible car accident at the age of 36, leaving her with a severe brain injury. God has brought her so far….so many accomplishments that she wasn’t “supposed” to ever achieve. A couple of years ago while she was going through a particularly hard struggle, she said to me, “Aunt Ann, I know I’m gonna make it, but right now I’m in that in between place”. I knew exactly what she was saying…and I’d imagine you do, too, right? We believe that God’s gonna walk with us and get us to the other side…however, sometimes it just seems like a longggggg way from here to there, doesn’t it? We’re gonna make it..but there are times we sure do need a hand to hold or place to rest on the journey….’cause we aren’t “there” yet…and we need to hear from somebody, who actually cares where we are struggling, that w...
6 comments
Read more

Faith Giving

My parents taught me about being quick to give but to use good judgment and wisdom in who to give to and making sure I give for the right reasons. I’ve been truly blessed these past few days by true givers.  Typically January is a slow month for traveling ministries like Downing Ministries.  This month has been especially challenging in that one weekend had only one booking and this past weekend just didn’t book at all.  Having seen the major snowstorm that blew through late last week, we wouldn’t likely have been able to fulfill dates if they had scheduled.  I’ve been hesitant to do a “plea” as such for help, somehow feeling that God had this and could work far better than I could.  I want to report, as I do the happy dance, that “giving folks” have started doing just that…GIVING out of their hearts to Downing Ministries.  To make the happy dance last longer, let me say that most of these gifts are from some folks I KNOW don’t have it to give in ...
6 comments
Read more

No Matter What

Several years ago a friend shared with me that his route to work every day took him through a toll booth....and he tried to always choose a certain booth. This is because the gentleman manning that booth was an elderly man who always had something "bright and sunny" to say to him. Every morning my friend would hear "Have a good day, no matter what!" Now, there were days my friend drove up to that toll booth with zillions of questions in his head of how he was gonna make it through a challenging day that was always before him when he arrived at his workplace. But he just kept those words in his head...and heart..."Have a good day, no matter what". Now, that's a choice, isn't it? "No matter what"???? I don't know about you, but I honestly don't find that coming naturally to me...it's a struggle to find sunshine on those cloudy, dreary mornings...'cause it just doesn't show up in my eyesight. But, that's w...
3 comments
Read more