Had thought they come hand in hand. Until that cold winter morning. We were walking from the parking lot to the office. Its a 2 mins walk, from the car, to the office. My eyes were watering, as the chill wind blew. I was shivering, with a sweater embracing me. And my friend with just a shirt on, was walking with his hands in his pocket. I couldn't help but ask ' Aren't you feeling cold? ' His reply made me stop dead on my tracks. I had to ask him to repeat it, to let it sink into me. He said 'Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional'.
It seems true. Not just on tht cold winter morning, but all of our life. Our life and the choices we make.
2 comments:
Adding a friend's comment below..
"How profound and true it is that we do have choices to suffer or not suffer. I am reminded of how our Lord suffered and bared the cross so that we would live in fellowship with the father. Jesus was meant to suffer. He also had a choice. But He knew the Father meant it for good. It brings me back to the garden where Jesus prayed for not His will, but the Father's will be done. He affirms His choice to do the will of the Father and suffer. We, as Christian also have a choice to suffer, not just for something bad but also for a good cause."
1Peter 2
19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the PAIN of unjust SUFFERING because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you SUFFER for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ SUFFERed for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22"He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth."[e] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
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