Life lessons

Today we had an awesome discussion at the "Family" where we get together every week and just share things about our life in a safe environment in hopes to heal, grow and get some answers about where we come from and where we are going. It is very interesting to know that as we go through life and take time to reflect, we are able to shed some light on the past experiences allowing God to illuminate the eyes of our heart with understanding.

Each of our lives is filled with so many experiences! It takes a lifetime to unfold and even longer to try and understand all the "Why's" and the "How's". Some experiences are so traumatic and painful, deeply rooting themselves into our psyche that it's like pulling on stings looking for where it all began. So many times those strings run all the way back to our childhood. The ramifications of harsh words that were said to us when we were 10 years old, or the bullying from a kid older than us in High School, or even worse - a parent who instead of creating safety, balance and protection in our lives, abandoned us and was the source of fear, pain and abuse...

Many of us live with scars that are so deep that we carry them with us, spilling them over into our relationships and friendships. Same scars and hurts that cause us to doubt ourselves and have a hard time trusting and believing that better is possible for us. Those harsh words and actions we experienced in our past, if not dealt with, can define who we are. As a result, we end up passing those hurts on to the ones we love the most, hurting them without knowing. The cycle continues because hurting people hurt people.

But the cycle can stop here, and it can begin with us making a choice to do different from what the dysfunctional and deceiving voices in our head urge us to do. We must take those voices apart and examine them. If the intent of those voices is to defeat us, to destroy us and to bring u down, then they are a lie from the enemy. The truth is - we are more than conquerors and through Christ we can overcome, learning the lessons even in the worst of situations.

Acknowledge that every experience, even the worst kind, can teach you a valuable lesson about yourself and about life. I am so thankful that I can look at all that happened in my life and take each part of it, no matter how painful it was, and learn a lesson from each of those experiences. That is how we break the vicious cycle - by learning the lesson that it was meant to teach us so that we know not to attract or even avoid a similar situation again. With the lessons learned we become more powerful and equipped to move confidently into the direction of our dreams without fear because each time we overcome we are better able to recognise how to deal with it should it arise again. The lessons are hard and we get tested..but if we are committed to growing and have a desire to learn, we will, no doubt, get better! I have learned to appreciate every situation, even the worst ones because I know they carry a lesson for me to learn...

...and for that I am thankful...

"And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."

~ Romans 8:27-29