This common saying comes to mind based on a conversation that my sister (who I adore) and I had yesterday. We were having a conversation about our childhood and how the damage impacted us and made us into who we are today. We approach the situation in two totally different ways. She tends to ‘sweep things under the rug’ while I tend to face those challenges/obstacles and fight my way to healing. So, it has left me thinking which approach is better? Is it better to block it out and pretend things never happened or should we go digging into the past even though it will be extremely painful and ugly and strive to be completely healed.I have been walking with God since I was a small child. He stepped into my life in the form of a Church bus ministry. I was playing with friends and two guys from Church invited me to go (kind of unsafe… I know!) That turned out to be the best decision I ever made! I needed God’s protection and direction in my life. My childhood was stolen from me and led me to live in a life of fear and only able to trust myself. God began a mighty big work in me and through years of going around the same mountains over and over again, I finally began to experience true healing. Through this healing, I am able to trust others again, forgive, and receive and give love in a greater capacity I have ever known.

Joyce Meyer (an amazing woman of God) once said, “God gathers all the fragments of our lives to make sure none of the pain was wasted. Most people are hurting and remain hurting because they can’t find the courage to be healed. Very few of the hurting get healed and go on to help other hurting people.” She followed it up by saying, “Let your pain become someone else’s gain!”

When my sister asked me how do I do it and why do I choose this path versus the other, I realize that I do this because I do not want my pain to be wasted. There are too many people in the world who are hurting and I could be the one person that makes a difference. Beth Moore (another remarkable woman of God) said, “It’s your wealth of experience that makes you rich. Spend it on hurting people.” “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love.” Colossians 2:2. So are you going to continue ‘sweeping it under the rug’ or face it head on, receive healing, and join me in a love revolution?

Love in Christ,

Nichole