Bear your pain, share your kindness

Photo by James Hammond on Unsplash

Pain has taught me something in the realm of people: the kindest people have learned to bear their pain, and in bearing their own pain they have discovered the capability to bear others’ pain, also.

With such an enlarged reservoir to bear their own burdens, they inadvertently developed copious reserves for the burdens of others. This is the Mother Teresa type. This is the type of person that absolutely oozes Jesus.

There is space within them within which
anyone can comfortably reside.

The person who has gone from the impetus and genesis of pain, and having used it, to the product of healing, has discovered for themselves, and is a witness for others, of the true purpose for and meaning of life. Nothing else does this person need. They have absolutely everything God could offer.

They learned that despising their pain made no sense as an outcome, even if being angry about the presence of their pain seemed to make sense at the time. They have learned the wisdom of the ages.

They have learned that kindness is the only worthy destiny
for those who have suffered much pain.

Resolving their pain at the destination of acceptance
meant that God’s wisdom camped at their address.

Indeed, God would have us know, that though we live in a failing world, broken in more ways than we can know, He gives to us this kind of world in order that we would transcend the despair of it all, and move on in pragmatic hope that we, too, can be kind, just as the Lord Jesus was kind.

It is a simple matter, then, to come to the realisation that pain is the activator for going on in the graciousness of kindness. But it is only those who have rummaged with and have wrestled with and, to also an extent, have been defeated by their pain, who have arrived at kindness on the other side.

We can only be kind in a consistent way when we have learned how to safely enter and deal with our pain.

Only as we learn to bear our personal pain
are we able to bear interpersonal pain.

Only as we deal with our personal pain
are we given the capacity to contain others’ pain.

Only as we heal can we be used as instruments
of the Holy Spirit to absorb the hurt of others
through acts of surrender unto kindness.

Only when others experience the grace
of the Holy Spirit in us do they entrust
their hurt to God one more time.

The whole purpose of life is to be able to get along with others, and we cannot truly do that until we realise that we are the ones who make getting along with others hard. Pain is meant to make us sit up and take notice.

Without pain there is no healing,
and those who reject healing
deny the pain present in us all.

The challenge that stands before us is that of taking responsibility for our pain. It may not be our fault, that which we have endured, but we are the ones charged with accepting God’s invitation into to deal with its effects.

So, next time you’re asking yourself, who are the kind people in my life, ask yourself also if it is the people who have suffered much but have also overcome their suffering to the point of not resenting it. Is it not the person who has borne more than the usual portion of purgatory?

The kindest people alive can bear much pain,
and they do, ensuring that pain
does not have the final word.

The kindest people can bear much pain,
and in bearing their own pain,
they can bear yours and mine,
and in such strength out of their weakness,
they share their plenteous kindness.

Kindness is the portion of those who
can neither be threatened nor threaten.