Wounds Really Hurt

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamour, and evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32

The first time I recall hearing the word “wounded” was around the time of World War II. I heard my Mother tell my Daddy of a family friend who had been wounded in the war. I recall asking what that meant and with my being VERY little, they didn't want to get into the whole thing. I knew whatever it was they were concerned about, it wasn't good as they were both very sober as they continued their conversation. My Uncle Paul was in the Army at the time. I recall a day or so later asking if Uncle Paul was going to “get wounded.” My Mother said they hoped not. I knew where I could get an answer so went next door to our neighbor, the Rennies. I walked into their kitchen and just point blank said, “Mrs. Rennie, what does it mean to be wounded?” She told me it generally meant that someone had been hurt in some way and it took time for their sore place to heal. That was all I needed to know.

I just looked up the word “wound” in the Miriam-Webster Dictionary. It gave me more information than I could have handled at a very young age. They defined the word from various angles. It spoke of “wound” as:

*to inflict injury

*an injury to the body by violence, accident or surgery that usually involves breaking of the skin.

*a mental or emotional hurt or blow.

That last definition was the one I was really interested in. We all could write our own books that would pertain to these kind of hurts or even sudden traumas. Such experiences can leave wounds in us that can last a lifetime.

Most of us, when the most disturbed about something tend to hold those things inside, refusing to reveal them even to a loving person who senses we may be going through a tough time. Perhaps we don't want even loved ones to see us as weak and out of control of everything in our lives. The bottom line is, we aren't in control of anything, especially when it comes to inflicted hurts, wounding, or inflictions by friend or foe. It happens.

I know the pain from physical wounds I've gone through, that really have been very few for someone my age. When little, I always had skinned knees that usually happened when falling while skating or while learning to ride a scooter. The worst part was that red stuff my Mother would apply to the wounds. I've had a broken finger and broken wrist, both that were put in splint or casts. They healed fine with very little problems. If you are like me, I would rather have then and even now, hoped the inner woundings could have been put in a splint or cast bringing about quick healing. Some of our wounds are deliberately inflicted by folks who really want to hurt us or do us harm. Some come by people or situations that hurt deeply unknowns to those who do the inflicting.

I have been browsing in my Bible looking at some giants in the faith who went through indescribably wounds. I think of those imprisoned from Joseph to the Apostle Paul. Stephen was beaten and stoned to death. David was on the run for a long period of time. His wounding was especially emotional, when we consider the one who was trying to kill him was his son. Job suffered physically and emotionally with lots of loss in his life. When I look at these men and others in Scripture, my hurts and wounds seem small, but my wounds are mine, all mine, when they do occur. Whether past or present, I have to learn to work through those wounds or I can end up being a very angry and bitter person. In those circumstances, I can't expect to have God's blessing on my life. Even with that information, I must come to grips with any wounds that I may harbor, even from many years ago.

By the way, wounds aren't just things inflicted on us. We are also guilty of inflicting wounds in the lives of others. At times, we don't mean to do it, but our words can pierce to the fiber of another like a knife. In this area, I think we ought to be careful about kidding with other people. I have often said that teasing can be a means of making a point with a smile on one's face. Even if someone is good at taking a joke, if not handed out at the right time or right way, can create hurt feelings that may linger for a long time.

I've never heard of a good wound. Even when a mom gives birth by C-section, she may have a beautiful baby, but suffer surgical pain she must get past. There are wounds that teach us lessons and sometimes we may have physical scars to remind us of them. They remind us to be more careful the next time. The scars from emotional wounds aren't easily revealed by the naked eye. They lie hidden beneath the surface only to be revealed by our words or actions. Those wounds may never completely heal and in those cases, our Lord Jesus is the answer.

Just today, I was thinking of Jesus' wounds while on the earth. We think of His wounds as being suffered on the cross only. I can't imagine Jesus coming from Heaven where there are no harsh words, no arguing, no teasing, no criticism...none of what we live with on the earth. Officials did everything to get a stir out of Him, criticizing and badgering Him. He knew what it was to be betrayed not just once, by disciples. He also knew the aching hurt from the death of a loved one. When you and I hurt and are wounded in any number of ways, Jesus knew it all, so He understands perfectly when we go to Him with our hurts. I can't imagine One so perfect taking on the sins of the world on the cross. In that process, He experienced the horrible taste of sin in His being. With all of His earthly experience, He more than understands when we bring those things to Him that crush our spirits. In reality, He is really the only One who can be of any help and healing of our every wound whether it be the healing of a surgical scar or the healing of any emotional wound, no matter how deep the cut. I love the fact that in it all, Jesus was wounded for me on a very personal basis. By the way, He did it for you as well.

Thank You dear Jesus for coming and not just dying for me but also living for me. In it all You can relate to every problem I face. It also means You know how to comfort and lead me through whatever hurts I face. What a relief to have You as Savior. I love you....In Your precious name...Amen