Sunday, February 15, 2015

Do Not Suffer in Silence


Be open about your hardships. Others may be able to help you and you may be able to help others.

Silence helps no one.

Putting yourself out there is scary and I'm not suggesting that you "cast your pearls before swine," but if there's any chance your selective words could uplift or strengthen someone in need, it's worth it to open your mouth. 

Being "open" does not mean to needlessly complain; it means to be more honest and real about your struggles or how you're feeling. However, do NOT aimlessly talk about your hardships; instead, DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE to survive and conquer them.

I'm deeply grateful for the several individuals who courageously reached out to my husband and I, after our baby girl passed away, to share their personal understanding of our grief, after losing children of their own. I'm so grateful they didn't keep their thoughts on the matter to themselves. Their encouraging words of hope and understanding brought a great amount of comfort. Simply knowing that we weren't alone in our heartbreak was helpful. It was helpful to know that if needed, there was someone whom we could turn to for advice as to how to get through it. They had "been there, done that," and they are still standing. If they survived it, perhaps we can too...

Although I am generally a reserved person, I feel strongly that I should begin being more open. It is my hope that there is someone in the world, even if it's just one person, who might be able to benefit from me sharing my personal experiences and coping strategies. Being open is mutually beneficial because if my experiences help someone else, I am given the opportunity to transform my trial into a blessing for either me or someone else, or for both of us. This process gives my challenges more purpose and positive results, instead of just scars.



2 comments:

  1. Your post reminds me of a quote by Elder Bednar: One of the greatest indicators of righteous character is the capacity to recognize and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Therefore, character is demonstrated by looking, turning, and reaching outward when the instinctive response of the “natural man” (Mosiah 3:19) in each of us is to turn inward and to be selfish and self-absorbed. And the Savior of the world is the source, the standard, and the ultimate criterion of moral character and the perfect example of charity and consistency.

    I think of you often, Maelee, and hope you are gradually healing. I love you! Rachel

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  2. I LOVE that whole last paragraph.

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