Pain

I just finished reading "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green.  My heart feels as if it has been torn from my chest.  It is such a beautiful book that depicts a relationship with cancer that I find tangible.

When someone is hurting, I have a hard time knowing what to say.  I don't want to tell them that it will be okay (even if I know it will) but what is the other alternative?  Do I say that "yes this sucks and it is totally unfair"?  Do I be heartless and tell them to get over it?  In moments like these I have resorted to just trying to listen.

However, when I read the quote attached to this blog post it all became clear to me what hurting people need.  It should have been clear to me all along because this is exactly what I crave when I am broken.

To quote the book The Fault in Our Stars--

“That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.”

This is SO true.  We cannot skip over the pain.  Maybe we can try to dismiss it for a while, but it will linger and fester until we feel it.  In other words, there is no way out of the dark forest except through it.  

I have quite a few friends that are hurting right now whether from broken relationships, sickness, or death and I finally know how to comfort them.  Thanks John Green.