Wounds, Scars And Their Connections To Grief

Have you ever thought about how a physical scar can teach us something about grief?

The other day my daughter pointed at my foot and asked "what happened?" I look down, confused thinking my daughter is seeing things.

What I would soon realize is she was pointing at a scar on the side of my foot. It was an injury from so long ago I literally didn't notice what she was trying to point out.

The scar had become a part of me and my everyday life without being noticed.

STORY TIME:

When I was 5 years old I cut my foot on an open lid of a can, inside of a trash bag laying on the kitchen floor. Running through our then apartment without socks or shoes and feeling what felt like an unauthorized outpatient surgery, {without anesthesia} on my left big toe is still etched in my mind to this day. Whew! I'm so glad it was a "quick surgery" Ha ha!

I'm not certain, because the memory is faint, but I believe due to our family's low income at that time, we didn't have a trashcan in the kitchen, {Now, I could be wrong about the reason there wasn't a container, and.... I would ask my mom but she left me to take a permanent trip to heaven}

Nevertheless, a scar formed over my original wound. That scar was more than a mark left behind, it was part of my body's process of healing and protection.

This made me think about grief...

Sometimes, we experience a loss that leaves an emotional wound we cannot see.

We may learn to function, smile, go to work, and keep moving forward, but that doesn't mean the experience has left no mark on us.

Just as physical scars can remind us of an injury, emotional scars can remind us of what we've endured. They don't mean we're broken. They are part of a story that deserves compassion, understanding, and care.

That doesn't mean forgetting what happened....

So, I want to encourage you to be encouraged; You are more than what hurt you. Your scars do not erase your worth, and you don't have to pretend that healing is easy.

If you've ever experienced a loss that changed you, share your thoughts, I'd love to read them. Your story may help someone else feel less alone.

Stick close to Good Grief Great Mourning for more conversations about grief, loss, faith, emotional healing, and finding hope along the way.

I love ya'll!