Healing Takes Time

I remember vividly the sting I felt when these words were asked of me:

"When are you going to get over this?"

They were spoken to me during a time when I had been broken by the mistreatment of another person. At that time, what I needed was care, gentleness, and understanding. Instead I quickly learned that my pain was an inconvenience for the people around me. I believe it was in this same conversation I heard, "Are you ever going to be able to forgive this?". Thankfully I had been journeying through a process of healing with enough time in my own therapy that I was able to recognize these words for what they were--they were the means to try to dismiss the gravity of the situation.

If it's minimized, then it's no big deal, right?

I know so many of you have heard these very same words said to you. Friends, I want you to know it is so important to tell yourself that it is okay to feel. Grieving and healing and recovery takes time. And this is not easy work! The most important part is to be actively engaged in a process of therapy, so thats there's movement towards wholeness on the inside. If you're in the process of healing, you get to take all the time you need. There is no drive-through therapy; but there is the true, mysterious work of healing and this is jam-packed with grace upon grace. So, silence all the voices that try and dismiss or rush or minimize the work that is happening (especially if they're in your own head) and give yourself permission to go at your own pace.

So today, take a deep breath. Be patient with all the parts of you that are healing. Stay connected to your heart, and surround yourself with voices of love.