Rachel K KidderMay you see the light through the darkness, wisdom through the pain and strength through the suffering.
About This Quote
I have been through a lot in my life. I have had to endure the pain of losing loved ones, the suffering of illnesses both physical and metaphorical, and the troubles that come with being an adolescent growing into adulthood. I have experienced all of these things to some extent personally, but none of them compare to the hardest thing I have ever had to endure. As you can imagine, one thing that has hurt me more than anything else is the loss of my ability to walk. Without this ability, I seem to be broken.
Although my spirit fights against this reality, it is impossible for me to deny that I am crippled by this deficiency. It is literally impossible for me to leave my house without help even though I can get around just fine on crutches. My life has been full of hardship and pain, but that does not mean that there are no brighter days or hope for the future. It also does not mean that there is no light in the darkness or no wisdom in suffering any longer.
The best part about all of these challenges is that they don’t define who I am as a person. What defines me is not those experiences that have colored my life; they simply make me who I am and they make me stronger and better at what I do and how I live my life now. I know what it feels like to feel broken because I know what it feels like to feel whole again as well as what it feels like when you find yourself trying to figure out how someone with a disability lives their life day after day. For example, most people with disabilities do not use their disability as an excuse for their attitude or behavior; they do not let it define them or their success or failure in life. They refuse to let others define who they are just as they refuse to allow others define them by their disability and by who they may be perceived as being by those with whom they interact on a daily basis.
Most people with disabilities believe in themselves and they strive for personal growth and development so they can reach their full potential – something we all should strive for – regardless of our circumstances or limitations we may face. I learn from Mr Mandela's quote every day as it reminds me that whatever happens in life, whatever difficulties or obstacles we may face, we should never let those circumstances dictate our thoughts about ourselves nor our ability to overcome those situations. May you see the light through the darkness, wisdom through the pain and strength through the suffering."
Source: Healing Grace Scripture Journal: 30 Day Bible Study Journal For Emotional Healing
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