While preparing to start my day this morning, I had a moment of reflection. As I was styling my hair with a flatiron, I accidentally burned myself on the head for what seemed to be many times. As the stings from the burns continued to come, I was ready to say “Nevermind” and just throw on a hat instead. However with everything that I had to do today, I knew within my heart of hearts that wearing a hat was not an option. If I wanted my hair styled properly, I had to endure the burns that may happen in the process.

 

It made me think back to my childhood and how every Sunday morning, my mother would straighten my hair with a pressing comb. I hated to even feel the heat close to my skin from the comb. A few times I would get burned because either I flinched or she underestimated the proximity of the pressing comb to my head. Whenever I would yell out loud about the pain, my mother would tell me, “Hush and be still—it’ll be over soon.” After she said those words I would sit very quietly and as motionless as I could. Week after week I would face it, and week after week I dreaded it. But I knew that if I wanted her to finish my hair, I had to be brave and take those burns. Even with tears running down my face I would keep telling myself over and over again that soon enough, this process would be done.

 

Life operates in this very same way. We know that every day will not be sunshine and that for flowers to grow there must be some storms and rain. We know that even for the very best of us that all of our moments in life won’t be easy—or even joyous. There will be problems, struggles, and losses; moments that we are amply prepared for and moments that will hit us out of the blue. Just like the burns I mentioned above, these moments will hurt us, sting us, and cause us pain.

 

We know that they are coming, and therefore we have to endure them. Even with tears streaming down our face, we have to be strong and take the burns of life as best as we possibly can. We must stand firm and be unmovable—not letting them take us under or cause us to totally give up. In taking the burns, we must remember that the greatest of warriors and champions endured most of their pain in silence. In other words, you don’t have to announce what you are going through to the world and you don’t have to alter your attitude towards others to reflect what you are feeling inside. Instead you can use the opportunity for prayer, journaling, meditation and self-reflection in order to come to terms with the stings and the hurt. If the burns become too much, definitely talk to someone who can empathize with your emotions, but be sure that it is someone that you trust.

 

Lastly, always keep your focus on the end result—even if the end result is simply your happiness and peace of mind. Remember that if you want the results that you seek, you must brave the discomfort of the trying times that will come your way in the process.

 

There will be moments when life is going to burn us, and as much as we would like to, we cannot change that fact. When you get to a place where you are forced to take the burns just be brave and remember the words from my Mom:

 

Hush and be still—it’ll be over soon.

 

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What is your approach when you have to take the burns of life? Do you believe that you can do better with how you handle them? Share with me below or tell me about it at: melisasource@yahoo.com.