This life is the only place I will feel; pain, frustration, anguish, desire, longing, romance, betrayal, indifference and heartbreak.  Do you believe that we will somehow miss this input when we’ve reached the promise land and have been freed from the world’s emotions?  That is an odd question to contemplate, however it does put into perspective the pain we feel now, because it is our only opportunity to grow from its intrinsic motivational qualities.  Should I miss the pain when it’s gone, most certainly not, but I shouldn’t avoid it, fear it or despise it so, after living of life is its own meaning.  So the pain the gain the loss the dross they are all part and parcel of this term of existence.  They are simply; well, Life.

My heart aches for old friends, lost family, missed divine or squandered worldly opportunity, regret of things said harshly or innocence lost, but I somehow in odd fashion cherish and welcome the experience of that pain.  I have grown from its catalyst in ways that were unavailable through providence and provision.  The harder road possesses greater and more deeply held lessons than the comfort of a well worn, safe path.  Not that I invite pain but I welcome it and in retrospect appreciate it now that I am not in the middle of its clutching impact.  It is a strange quality of the value of this one way ticket in life, that it all somehow matters more.

Lord, I do not presume to understand what you’ve intended, but I welcome it.  That is again an oddity, to not know and still want, content in the knowledge that whatever comes will be for the good of all things.  How then am I embrace this opportunity to feel loss, for it has arrived?  Thank you for the lesson.  I greet this pain with a new awareness of its intended and eventual affect.  Thank you for the the opportunity to feel, because this is my only opportunity to do so.  I look forward to a life without this pain but for now it is just right.  I love and appreciate you Father, in Jesus’ Name I pray.