Is suffering necessary?
I have pondered upon this question for a few months now. This question came upon after Corona Virus hit us. It also came after I questioned if having Cancer was necessary for me. Does my suffering have any meaning, what has it done to me? was my question. After a long reflective moment I came to the conclusion that my suffering was necessary, it had to happen. I realize these times we are living in needed to come so that our lifestyle shifts, so that our priorities change, so that we can savor the small moments, so that we realize that we are not immortal or invincible. We don't have control of what happens, but we do have a choice in how we react when suffering comes.
I remember my first suffering was when my father left my mom, and I saw my mom's suffering after my father left. He wasn't a bad father, but for a child who is 3 or 4 years old you just focus on the fact that the person you love the most has left, and you don't know why. I remember one time looking at a dad carrying his daughter and I wished in that moment I had that. My dad was present; is not that he wasn't, but he was present in his own way, not in the way I needed him at that time. Through the void that I felt growing up, I realized that it was a process I had to go through to be the person I am today. I learned through my mom's Cancer that life is fragile, and that your life can change in an instant; this was another trial I had to go through. But with the suffering of missing my dad as a child, I later equipped myself with courage, forgiveness, and allowed myself to let go of the idea of how I wanted my dad to be and accept him as he is. To accept him as how he is, is to know he will never visit me because that is just how he is, but to appreciate that he calls me every week to see how Im doing, never forgets my birthday, and if I ever need his help financially he would do that without a doubt. And with that in mind, I go to a statement David Koresh made; a man who was known for brainwashing people into believing he was a prophet and knew when the end of times was coming in the 1990s. He said an interesting thing about suffering; he said 'for some reason people think that they shouldn't have any troubles, or that suffering is a mistake, or is unfair, or is God being unjust. But what if suffering is the point so we can learn to let go and be easy in the spirit.' First we think we should not go through any type of suffering, our response is either of fight or flight. We think we must have done something wrong because we are suffering. But that's not the case; suffering brings change, turmoil, but also peace and hope if you allow yourself to let go of what you think it should be. Suffering has allowed me to reflect as to how I am as a human being. Suffering stopped me in my tracks for a moment in my life to remind me of what is important and what truly matters in life.
And this is what Cancer did to me, I enjoy the now more than I did before Cancer. You may say but what about the chemotherapy? that is horrible. Yes it sure is, I hate every time I have to go to the hospital for chemotherapy, and carry a pump to keep receiving chemo at home. I hate the side effects and what it does to you emotionally as well. But the absence of health has made me fully aware that life is very delicate, and that I must love myself and others, just as God has loved me without any judgment, and that I am no better than the next individual. When I leave this Earth what really matters is how I treated people, If I gave, and caused those around me to value life as well. You know in your suffering how you can gain strength? I gain strength in praying, it gives me a peace that surpasses all understanding, and it gives me hope. I always remember this verse in the Christian bible which says in regards to suffering; that suffering 'produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. There couldn't be any more truth in this verse.
In all the suffering you have encountered in your life, I know that it caused change wether it was good or bad, depending on how you reacted to it, and may still be holding on to the pain it caused. But learn to let go today, and invite peace into your life. Start giving of your time to those who may need you today. The work starts within yourself, reflect on who you are and who you want to be, and start working on that first. Before suffering comes we think we are invincible, yet when suffering arrives we are confronted with ourselves, and changes must occur.
We see even throughout history what suffering has led to. I can name a few people who suffered because they were driven by love, and a need to let others know that the color of your skin doesn't matter but the content of your character. Mr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal treatment of people of color, through his speeches and march he showed endurance, and hope for a better future. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, which resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott movement. But along with this came humiliation, and she was arrested. She suffered but in the midst of it she empowered many, and brought change. Maya Angelou suffered when she was raped at a young age, and was sent to live with her grandmother. But the suffering she went through turned into what became her voice; which was her love for writing, and becoming a known poet, and civil rights activist. Her suffering became her force of wisdom and teaching.
I invite you to find strength in suffering, and use it to fuel you. There are many valuable lessons you learn through suffering, it doesn't feel good but it will build your character. Ending with a quote from Will Smith, who shared what his father taught him growing up. His dad said 'you can't build anything if you are not willing and even sometimes seeking suffering.' Think deep about that statement.
Peace and Love,
Millie
I have pondered upon this question for a few months now. This question came upon after Corona Virus hit us. It also came after I questioned if having Cancer was necessary for me. Does my suffering have any meaning, what has it done to me? was my question. After a long reflective moment I came to the conclusion that my suffering was necessary, it had to happen. I realize these times we are living in needed to come so that our lifestyle shifts, so that our priorities change, so that we can savor the small moments, so that we realize that we are not immortal or invincible. We don't have control of what happens, but we do have a choice in how we react when suffering comes.
I remember my first suffering was when my father left my mom, and I saw my mom's suffering after my father left. He wasn't a bad father, but for a child who is 3 or 4 years old you just focus on the fact that the person you love the most has left, and you don't know why. I remember one time looking at a dad carrying his daughter and I wished in that moment I had that. My dad was present; is not that he wasn't, but he was present in his own way, not in the way I needed him at that time. Through the void that I felt growing up, I realized that it was a process I had to go through to be the person I am today. I learned through my mom's Cancer that life is fragile, and that your life can change in an instant; this was another trial I had to go through. But with the suffering of missing my dad as a child, I later equipped myself with courage, forgiveness, and allowed myself to let go of the idea of how I wanted my dad to be and accept him as he is. To accept him as how he is, is to know he will never visit me because that is just how he is, but to appreciate that he calls me every week to see how Im doing, never forgets my birthday, and if I ever need his help financially he would do that without a doubt. And with that in mind, I go to a statement David Koresh made; a man who was known for brainwashing people into believing he was a prophet and knew when the end of times was coming in the 1990s. He said an interesting thing about suffering; he said 'for some reason people think that they shouldn't have any troubles, or that suffering is a mistake, or is unfair, or is God being unjust. But what if suffering is the point so we can learn to let go and be easy in the spirit.' First we think we should not go through any type of suffering, our response is either of fight or flight. We think we must have done something wrong because we are suffering. But that's not the case; suffering brings change, turmoil, but also peace and hope if you allow yourself to let go of what you think it should be. Suffering has allowed me to reflect as to how I am as a human being. Suffering stopped me in my tracks for a moment in my life to remind me of what is important and what truly matters in life.
And this is what Cancer did to me, I enjoy the now more than I did before Cancer. You may say but what about the chemotherapy? that is horrible. Yes it sure is, I hate every time I have to go to the hospital for chemotherapy, and carry a pump to keep receiving chemo at home. I hate the side effects and what it does to you emotionally as well. But the absence of health has made me fully aware that life is very delicate, and that I must love myself and others, just as God has loved me without any judgment, and that I am no better than the next individual. When I leave this Earth what really matters is how I treated people, If I gave, and caused those around me to value life as well. You know in your suffering how you can gain strength? I gain strength in praying, it gives me a peace that surpasses all understanding, and it gives me hope. I always remember this verse in the Christian bible which says in regards to suffering; that suffering 'produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. There couldn't be any more truth in this verse.
In all the suffering you have encountered in your life, I know that it caused change wether it was good or bad, depending on how you reacted to it, and may still be holding on to the pain it caused. But learn to let go today, and invite peace into your life. Start giving of your time to those who may need you today. The work starts within yourself, reflect on who you are and who you want to be, and start working on that first. Before suffering comes we think we are invincible, yet when suffering arrives we are confronted with ourselves, and changes must occur.
We see even throughout history what suffering has led to. I can name a few people who suffered because they were driven by love, and a need to let others know that the color of your skin doesn't matter but the content of your character. Mr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal treatment of people of color, through his speeches and march he showed endurance, and hope for a better future. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, which resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott movement. But along with this came humiliation, and she was arrested. She suffered but in the midst of it she empowered many, and brought change. Maya Angelou suffered when she was raped at a young age, and was sent to live with her grandmother. But the suffering she went through turned into what became her voice; which was her love for writing, and becoming a known poet, and civil rights activist. Her suffering became her force of wisdom and teaching.
I invite you to find strength in suffering, and use it to fuel you. There are many valuable lessons you learn through suffering, it doesn't feel good but it will build your character. Ending with a quote from Will Smith, who shared what his father taught him growing up. His dad said 'you can't build anything if you are not willing and even sometimes seeking suffering.' Think deep about that statement.
Peace and Love,
Millie
🙏. You are speaking facts.
ReplyDeleteRaw truth xoxo
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