Suffering is optional

One of the sayings we have at our house is this: there’s no extra points for suffering. This is said when one or the other of us won’t take advantage of something that would make life easier or less painful. Having been raised in a strict Catholic home, I grew up with the notion that God loves for us to suffer and the more I suffer, the better things will go for me when I show up at the Pearly Gates. I don’t believe this any more.

No matter who you are, how spiritual you might be, how good you are, how talented you are, how famous you are, life can and does dish up some difficulties from time to time. Some of these are quite painful or at least very inconvenient. We can choose to plow through, suffering as we go, or we can take advantage of whatever comfort might be there for us.

If you get a cold, instead of beating yourself up for it, stay home and take something that helps with the symptoms. Remember: rest and drinking lots of fluids usually does the trick. There are no extra points for going to work, sniffling and coughing the entire time, sharing your cold with everyone you meet along the way.

We all get bodily aches and pains from time to time and it seems the older we get, the more of these that tend to show up. There are no extra points for girding your loins, avoiding taking any sort of pain reliever, and suffering. 

I’m sure you can come up with your own list of sufferings since life can be full of them. Do remember: suffering is optional. There are many natural ways to deal with physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. Take advantage of them and you will still be welcomed at the Pearly Gates. A sign has been added: no martyrs allowed.

Be good to yourself - THAT earns extra points!!

Living in grace and ease,

Krysta