My mom went to a seniors' retreat a few months ago, and shared the jist of one of the messages with me: it was about the difference between wounds and scars.
He pointed out that physically, when we are first wounded, we can describe in graphic detail how we got it - what we were doing at the time, exactly how it felt, what the doctor said, etc. But over the years as the wound heals and we're left with just a scar, the exact details become hazy - and we don't necessarily remember the details - just the lesson we learned from it (i.e. "Don't play with matches," or "Be more careful when chopping vegetables for dinner.").
In the same way, our emotional wounds need to turn into scars. We can't hold onto every detail of how people have hurt or abused us emotionally or spiritually, because then our wounds will never become scars - we'll never learn what God wants to teach us through them, and we'll never be able to help others.
I write all this to say...I could really use some prayer to turn my "ministry wounds" into scars. I'm in a great place right now, and I am so thankful to God for everything He's done for me, but there are still wounds that are so raw! I want to feel like I've "come home," so to speak - but I guess I'm scared to relax and be home in this new church...this new community...in many ways, a whole new culture!
I couldn't agree with you more, Puppetmaster. This is so true. WHAT A GREAT POINT.
I will pray for you. And let me tell you from experience - the longer you are at your new place, the easier it will get as far as the wounds turning into scars. This is because you will be building good memories where you are that will make the past a more distant memory. It will feel further and further away -- because it is. At first it's still raw because it's not that long ago and it's hard sometimes to get in "reality" that you are really gone from there, and these people cannot hurt you anymore. It's hard to realize at first -- they really cannot hurt you any more!!! You really ARE free. At first when you move to a new place after being wounded, you are still afraid of being hurt. But realize, you truly are now away from those people. They have no power over you anymore. You can relax, be happy and move on with your wonderful new life. They really are the past. So let them go. Loose them and let them go.
