«And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him’ » (John 9:2, 3)
I was sitting on bus 321, going to work. Behind me, a woman and a man were talking about Jessica. The woman said she was very angry with her friend, Jessica, because she was negligent with her children: she did not take them to school, nor did she educate them at home. She said that although Jessica had little money, she continued to pay for her ex-boyfriend’s car expenses. Finally, the woman told the man sitting behind me: «I understand that she is depressed because her father passed away, but Jessica doesn’t have time to be depressed!» That last statement followed me all day, buzzing in my mind like a horsefly. Depression, as well as other anxiety disorders, do not ask permission to arrive, nor do they look for a day off in your calendar. Piling guilt on the shoulders of a depressed person is an act of cruelty. However, it is useful to understand that there is a difference between guilt and responsibility.
In her article «Trauma Is Not Your Fault, but Healing Is Your Responsibility,» author Brianna Wiest wrote, «Although [the traumatic event] was not our fault, healing the consequences will always fall on us; and instead of seeing it as a burden, we can learn to see it as a strange gift.» We all carry wounds and traumas from the past, but unless we stop pointing our fingers and accept the responsibility to heal, we will infect others live better.
Taking responsibility for healing our wounds is a strange gift, wrapped in dirty, wrinkled paper. However unwrapping that package, as Geri Scazzero wrote in The Emotionally Healthy Women, may be the best thing we do: «Allowing me to feel my own sadness has allowed me to be more compassionate to the sadness of others. Now I’m convinced that his is one of the best gifts I have to give.»
Dear Lord, please heal me; use what happened to me for your power and glory.
Even if it wasn’t my fault, I accept my responsibility in the healing process.
Help me get help, be patient, take one more step.
I don’t want to run away from my responsibilities.
#WomensDevotional
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Perez & Angelica Cuate
