Life's Icy Patches

Please do me a favor. As you read, open the video part of your brain and view these different scenes.

Scene one- The snow has been melting on the black pavement but in the wee hours of the morning, you know the black shiny spots are ice. Slowly and gingerly, you take each step with arms stretched out for added balance. You feel your left foot start to slip, then the right one starts gliding across the icy patch and you know instantly how this plays out. First one leg goes forward while the other goes back as your arms fly like a pinwheel—backwards. This is going to hurt.

Scene two- You are looking out the window at the clear, blue sky minding your own business. All of a sudden your feet are flying behind, as the sight of the floor looms before you.  Barely do you have time to protect your face with open hands before crashing to the floor. Someone yanked the rug from under your feet and you were completely unaware they were even in the room. This is going to hurt.

Scene three- In the corner of your soul hides a deep secret, like a hidden box tucked deep in your closet. You had made a bad decision a long time ago and to this day, you aren't particularly proud of it. And to make it worse you didn't exactly handle the situation the best way.  There's tremendous pain and difficult memories stored away that may hurt those you love. The door to your closet opens and the light unveils your box. You are grateful the light revealed your secret, but what about those you love? This is going to hurt.

Hurt. We can label it in different ways. Pain. Distress. Damage. Wounds. Injury. Stings. Aches. Harm. To just name a few.

Sometimes we see it coming like the ice scene and even though we try our best to prevent injury, it happens anyway.

Sometimes we're blindsided like in scene two. Not only hurt by the fall, but by being caught completely unaware.

Sometimes it's a relief when the light appears and releases your past hurt to begin healing. But your heart aches because of the sting others will feel now that your secret is free. It's hard to be the one hurting, but even harder to cause others such pain.

Hurt and pain in life are inevitable and sometimes, beyond our control. Events happen and wounds appear in the soul.

That’s when we have a choice.

We can become trapped if we allow ourselves to start the questions like why me.  Or to think thoughts like, "I didn't deserve this." Or to close our eyes, put fingers in our ears and hum with denial.  Or to play the blame-game toward others or God.

Those reactions can bring on the woe-is-me, victim mentality and then not much healing can occur.

Or we can accept that one certainty of living life is being hurt along the way. And after we brush ourselves off and put a band aid on the pain, we must keep on living. There are many healthy ways to promote the healing of soul wounds. One way is to remember we can't change the past, but we can bravely move forward into the future. Once again, life offers us another opportunity to choose wisely.

To fully live life, we must embrace all it has to offer with an open and genuine heart. One day, one step, one decision at a time.  Even with the icy patches, the pulled-out rugs and the uncovered secrets.

What about you? Hit any icy patches lately? Had any new hurts come your way? I appreciate your comments. 

Tammy Van Gils is a writer, blogger, and co-owner of S & N Paint Contractors, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. In the Richmond area, she is a member of The Christian Writers Hub and Word Weavers Richmond. Visit her Facebook Page, Pinterest and Twitter @Tammyvangils.