The past couple of weeks have reminded me that LOVE INVOLVES PAIN. All the fairy tales in the world have done us a terrible disservice by lying to us about this stark truth. So many of us — myself included at times — go through life hoping that when we find true love, we will enter into the realm of happily ever after and never feel the pangs of heartache or sorrow again. So when we discover this lie for what it is, we often assume we’ve done something wrong.
I know better than this, now.
True love will always involve heartache and pain.
This is because we live as imperfect humans in an imperfect world, doing our best to share our lives and our hearts with one another. Mistakes are always made, and our openness and vulnerability allow those mistakes to wound us. To deny that fact is to deny our very nature and the very nature of love. This is especially true for someone who loves so freely and openly, someone like me.
But here’s the thing, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Long ago, I discovered that if there truly is love in my heart, then any pain that comes as a result is precious. After all, that pain is a sign that I truly am loving freely, and that is the greatest gift that I could ever give myself. It’s also the greatest gift I could ever give, and I will cherish that gift, even with its thorny downside, with every fibre of my being.
I want to really think about that. I want to allow it to sink into the depths of my soul, and find the freedom that this offers. I know am not perfect. I know that I will do things that will hurt someone I love from time to time, no matter how thoughtful and caring I am. And while I don’t want to use this fact to be intentionally thoughtless and uncaring, I don’t want to be afraid of making those mistakes along the way. Because in the end, I will cherish even the mistakes we’ll both make along the way. I will look at my tears I shed as we walk together, and count them as gold.
If there truly is love in my heart, then any pain that comes as a result is precious.
Nince! 