We live in a world that is full of distractions. Technology is expanding at an alarming rate. In the United States we live in a culture that is constantly bombarding us with what we are supposed to be, have, and do.

In one of my Joy and Flow emails I touched on pain. How we’re supposed to just “get over it” whatever “it” is. An example of this is when I was going through my divorce. Once I made the decision that I needed to leave the marriage, I had people offer a moving truck, movers to help me and lots of friends that were there supporting me and encouraging me.

When all is not “Fixed”

Moving day came and all of the things I wanted were delivered and placed in my new rental home. The small, two-bedroom home was a fraction of the size of the four-bedroom dream home I had left. I was unemployed, down to my last nickel, and felt utterly alone, even though I had my son with me half of the time.

I post many times about dogs here and on Facebook. That’s because I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had my Golden retriever Duffy. He was my rock, my comfort. I cried many times into his fur. He was always there for me. He was the presence of God in doggy form.

No one followed up with me to see how I was doing. No one offered me support after the move. It was as if my problem was solved in my “new life.” It’s like they said, “Jackie is out of the house. She’s settled, all was fixed.”

Let the Healing Begin

It was in that house that I did a lot of healing. I mostly healed from the divorce. When I left the corporate world in 2008, that’s when my healing really started taking place. That was healing the wounds from my childhood.

Wounds from the Past

In another email I shared the story of how I wanted to be an artist. I drew and painted and created many masterpieces as a child. When I came home one day I found that they were all gone. My father had thrown them out because, to him, they were clutter. I felt that he threw me in the trashcan that day. It took me a long time to realize and express my talents. It’s not paintbrushes or easels I use at this moment to paint pictures. I paint pictures with my pen and computer on the page.

Wounds can go very deep. We can cover these wounds over with denial, busyness, and numbing out. But wounds won’t heal until they are cleaned out and brought to the light.

We can’t be effective carrying around our wounds. I believe that a lot of the parables that Jesus taught while healing people who were blind or blame can be metaphors for people that were hurt deeply. They were wounded and couldn’t function. They couldn’t be effective. They couldn’t become all that God created them to be.

Life Isn’t Always Fair

When I was seeking healing going through the divorce, I was talking to my therapist whom I really loved. We were talking about life being fair. She told me the only fair was in Sedalia, Missouri. :) This is the home of the state fair for Missouri. It wasn’t a hurtful or flippant comment. Life is not always fair.

For those who have been hurt and abused, especially by parents or people that are supposed to love you, that is certainly not fair. It wasn’t fair for my father to throw out all of my art work. But he wasn’t in his right mind due to the alcohol and manic depression. I’ve accepted that and let it go. I also realize that somewhere along the line, he was probably hurt too.

Put a Stop to Being Hurt Further

If you’ve been wounded, take those wounds to God. He can take away the hurt and the pain when you sincerely and passionately ask him to do so. If someone is continuing to hurt you, you need to remove yourself from the situation. If family members are not accepting you, you need to remove yourself. You are part of God’s family. There are many people in this family to love and accept you.

It’s the only way that you will heal and live a life of peace and victory.

Practice Acceptance

I have learned that one of the greatest spiritual practices is acceptance. Once we except what has happened to us, we can acknowledge the hurt and then we can let it go. If you don’t let it go, you will not be effective in all areas of your life.

You can try and achieve and run from your wounds like I did for decades, or you can face them, bring them to light, and let them heal.

That’s why learning to be still, letting go and trusting God (and trusting yourself) is so important to living a life filled with peace and power.

Dear one, know that God loves you and suffers with you whatever it is that you are going through. He is waiting with open arms to comfort and to heal you so that you can be all that he created you to be.

Having a hard time letting go? I’ve created this Prayer for Letting Go along with cut number 5 from my Meditative Affirmation CD called Letting Go. You can download it for free.