Not the Walking Wounded

I received a very high compliment the other day, but in fact, it is a testimony to the amazing work God has done in my life.

The people that I meet at this point in my life don’t know the harsh upbringing I had with a very troubled father.

After sharing a little of my past history with my new friend she said she couldn’t picture me having been in that environment. She said I was too normal.

She had observed that I am not carrying around any visible baggage.

I am not the walking wounded.

There was a time when I was…(before I learned to forgive and let go). If I had waited until he was sorry, I would still be waiting. I knew I had to do it for my own emotional and spiritual health and it was the most freeing choice I ever made. Like dandelion petals carried away with the wind, the burden was lifted from my shoulders. I never imagined it could feel so good just to let it go. God surprised me with that one, and it was a beautiful blessing in my life.

Someone made the statement in a discussion recently about how sometimes we don’t receive God’s grace for healing from a painful past. She hit the nail on the head.

We discussed why two people can go through a hardship and one won’t let it go and grows bitter while the other one lets it go, let’s God work, and heals.

A long time ago I decided I knew I did not want to be that first person. Too much of my life had been robbed already and I wasn’t giving up any more ground to the past. We don’t have to go through life as the walking wounded still carrying visible baggage.

We can receive God’s strength to let go and heal. He will bring healing to the heart that opens to His work of grace.