Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: PAIN (04/21/22)
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TITLE: Only For A While | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laurie Bahlke
04/28/22 -
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“This is going to hurt.” The angel that stood at the woman‘s bedside held her hand and with the other, she stroked the daughter’s hair. She repeated the words again, close to the daughter’s ear, and then added, “You loved her well.” The daughter looked around and saw nothing but a heart monitor that traced slow, small peaks. “Look,” the son standing at the foot of the bed whispered, “Her breathing has changed.” The woman took a long steady breath and accepted the angel’s hand that led her into a field of lavender.
“This is going to hurt.” The pastor placed a hand on the man’s shoulder as he knelt, crying out, “Please. Let her stay just a while longer.” The man watched as his wife, both a friend and a piece of his history, placed her bags in the car and drove off. The man took a few quick breaths before he composed himself enough to fold his hands together in prayer.
“This is going to hurt.” The bird flew near the woman, the words trailing, swirling around in soft flight. Again, she could hear the words as she placed white lilies and daisies, his favorite flower on the granite stone that marked the passing of time and grief. She exhaled, a year of memory and loss fleeing from her lips.
“This is going to hurt.” The gray-haired man watched the toddler run across the grassy lawn, falling into a heap. A stray shoelace: the bunny’s ear that came undone and furled itself into freedom left the child crying, arms reaching up to his mother who cupped his face and kissed his forehead. Hurt was replaced by the comfort of being held.
“This is going to hurt.” All of heaven hovered over the child that had grown into a man and took up a cross to save a fallen world. The words were repeated amongst the angels and then a great silence swept over the kingdom; they had never known sorrow or pain such as this. Hallelujah and glory had filled the night sky at the time of his birth. Thirty-three years later, darkness consumed the day as pain heavy like a weight, swept across the land.
Pain comes to all of us. It may be physical, born of emotion, conjured up by a thought, created by regret, or just simply sown among the days and moments of living. In the midst of it, the pain feels as if it will never end. As followers of Christ, however, we can place our hope in the One who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalms 147:3, NIV). There isn’t anything that the Lord cannot heal.
“This is going to hurt, but only for a while.” The boy forgets about the shot as words of being “brave” follow him out the door and the yellow sticker clings happily to his t-shirt.
“This is going to hurt, but only for a while.” The children of a dying mother know that life with Jesus in a field of lavender flowers, where this is no pain and no sorrow, is only a breath away.
“This is going to hurt, but only for a while.” The man will lean on prayer and the care of others as he navigates the deep ache of separation.
“This is going to hurt, but only for a while.” Those who walk daily with the loss of a loved one find healing in memory that allows the crushing weight of absence to take flight.
“This is going to hurt, but only for a while.” Jesus rose three days after taking his last breath and ushered in the promise of life everlasting.
Yes, life is going to hurt sometimes, perhaps often but remember, it’s only for a while. Reach up to the One who loves and cares for you. Be brave, and like yellow stickers clinging to t-shirts, let His love and promises cling to your heart.
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