Where Our Honor Lies

I have chosen to believe that the depth of my wounds
show the depth of my strength and courage.
I have chosen to see the profound nature of my past suffering
as proof of my invulnerability and fearlessness.
I have chosen to believe that my trauma taught me
how to heal myself so that I may share my discoveries with others.

I have learned that trauma
is not supposed to become a badge of honor.
Honor does not emanate from our suffering
but from our healing.
When we choose to heal ourselves
instead of allowing our inner turmoil to ripple outward,
to be disseminated to other beings,
when we choose to seek forgiveness and acceptance
over self-righteous anger and blame,
then we will have honored ourselves, our history,
and honored God's plan for our salvation.
When we reach a place where we can view
our painful past with equanimity
and view ourselves with unconditional loving compassion,
that is where our honor lies.
For once we do this for ourselves,
it will become easier to see the world
through the lens of unconditional loving compassion
and therefore easier to forgive all transgressions
past, present, and to be.

What we learn from our past suffering
is meant to be our gift to the world.
Our choice to grow, to love, to live courageously
is our gift to the world.
Our choice to rise again and again in the face of hardships
is our gift to the world.
For these things give the world
reasons to be hopeful;
these things give all beings
reasons to believe in themselves when all seems lost;
these things give people the courage to persevere.