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By William Van Zyl. Published in 2022.
Being wounded and suffering heartache is something that strikes at every human’s heart at some point. Right? Have you experienced suffering? Recently? Or, some time ago?
Have you been wounded by a loved one? We all know that pain.
The famous Mexican artist – Frida Kahlo – is renowned for being transparent and open about her personal life and emotions. The world loves her for it. Why? Because we all can identify with her.
Table of Contents
The Wounded Deer:
Frida says it all in this painting: Heartbroken, broken, and wounded. See the branch snapped from a tree on the ground in front of the deer. A flourishing life interrupted!
Frida explains: “I suffered two grave accidents in my life: one in which a streetcar knocked me down.… The other accident is Diego,” Frida Kahlo said in a 1951 interview. Kahlo was referring, of course, to her husband and fellow artist.
Diego Rivera, with whom she had a profoundly volatile relationship, deeply inflicted pain and hurt to her soul. Their marriage toggled between emotional highs and bitter lows; the latter were often inspired by Rivera’s insistent cheating and infidelity on Kahlo’s part.
Comment on Kahlo’s artwork ‘The wounded deer’: See the arrows in ‘her back’ – pointing to the damage to her spine from the accident. Secondly, see the arrows in her heart – the pain her husband Diego inflicted on her (cheating).
Psalm 147:3
He (God) heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.
I have recently spoken to a close friend. He was wounded in a relationship. We sat down – had a candid conversation – and listed the following things around the wounding of the soul and the process of healing. I have included the list for you. When people are wounded, some experience the following in the beginning stages:
1. Loss of trust
2. You withdraw
3. You are disappointed
4. You need time. You want to be alone.
5. At some point, when you are ready, you want to talk about it
5. You know it is going to be a process. You experience profound disappointment.
6. You feel lonely and deserted
What to do when you are wounded?
1. Forgive immediately, do not procrastinate. It will be excruciatingly painful. You could probably don’t even entertain the thought of forgiving. However, experienced people know they just have to forgive. They make a decision; they forgive immediately – they don’t waste time. They move forward. It is an action – it is not an emotion. You have to do it several times before you feel that it is behind you. If you don’t take action, you are delaying the healing process. You are wasting your own precious time.
2. Listen to soothing music. For example, Christian worship music.
3. Talk to your confidant. Or someone you can trust. Don’t hold back – let it all out. If necessary, repeat the session until you feel free.
3. Start rebuilding the walls of your soul: Engage in prayer. Pray to God. The Holy Spirit (also called, The Comforter, and The Counselor) will become your therapist. It costs nothing, absolutely nothing. It is a free service – how awesome is that. You can do it at any time – day or night. He is there waiting for you. Pour your heart out. The person of the Holy Spirit is real.
Psalm 62:8
King James Bible
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.4. After a while, when you feel ready, talk to the person. If possible, arrange a time and place to speak to the person that inflicted the wound. Ensure it is safe; maybe ask a friend or family member to join in. Alternatively, if it is not a good decision – do not talk to the person who has afflicted the pain. Use wisdom – sometimes, it is best not to speak to that person. You will instinctively know what to do. Or, listen to that small voice on the inside of you.
5. Make peace. Forgive once more. Move on. Forgive – again and again. Trust me, that wound will take some time to heal.
6. Create a strategy and be proactive regarding the relationship. How will you manage communication or interaction with the specific person? Sometimes, as I have mentioned, it is best not to be in contact with that person. If it is possible, of course. If you have to live or work with that person, put some strategies in place to protect you.
7. Stay away from the person for quite some time. Let the dust settle.
8. Hang out with kind people.
Scriptures have a powerful healing and counseling effect.
Read scripture. Recite them. Listen to them.
Here are verses that will comfort you:
Psalm 34:17-20 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? John 14: 1
Copyright © 2022 by William Van Zyl
Wounded
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Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, 2022
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