Pain - Written by Wanda Rodriguez - Written on May 1, 2025 - Posted on May 4, 2025

Pain comes in many shapes and sizes.  It’s not limited to physical pain, like a broken arm or a fractured tailbone (speaking from experience on that one!).  It can be emotional pain, like that which comes from dealing with a tragedy such as a fire, or the loss of a loved one.  It could be the financial pain that you feel when your investments take a huge hit, or your salary just can’t keep up with the cost of living.  It could be mental pain, or anguish, from fallout in dealing with a complex matter, like deciding whether to place your parents in an assisted living environment or not.  It could be the kind of pain you feel when someone you love, like your child, is hurting and you can’t make it better for them.  It could be emotional pain inflicted on you by harsh words or judgements from others, or from yourself (we really can be our own worst critic!)  You get the idea.  

We all carry with us some form of pain with us.  Scars from the past.  Healing wounds from the present. Anticipatory pain you might feel when you know something challenging is on the horizon, like a loved one nearing the end stages of life, or a valued relationship that is regrettably drawing to a close.  You find yourself anxiously waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Some pain you can see, but many are invisible to the naked eye.  Usually it is some combination of both, with overlap, making it hard to differentiate where one ends and another begins.  We all have them.  Battle scars that we carry with us, that shape us into who we are and who we are yet to become.  

Pain can slow someone down when they are walking, parking or driving.  Pain can adversely affect how you interact with people and you might be less patient and more edgy.  Pain can  cause people to pull away or seem unfriendly.  Pain can lead to unwise attempts to manage it, such as drugs, alcohol or other means.  Your pain can be transferred to others through words and actions.  Pain can quickly spiral out of control.

I am writing today as a reminder to always carry a little extra “space for grace” with you wherever you go.  You don’t know who might need it: the cashier; the slow driver in front of you (who does not need to hear your horn!); the person who suddenly seems to have forgotten how to drive; the person in line behind you at the bank who is still talking loudly on the phone; the person sitting alone, staring out the window; the person who is afraid to share their feelings because of previous hurts; the person who appears to be eating way more than they should (trust me, they hear it from themselves loud and clear already!); the person who stays in a job or a relationship because they are afraid to take the risks needed and reach for the next vine; etc.  This person could be someone unknown to you, someone you know, or even yourself.  Regardless, space for grace is the key.  You don’t know what they are walking through.  Offer kindness.  Offer encouragement.  Offer an ear, and an arm, of support.  Offer prayers and reach out to God.  Remember, a little kindness goes a long way and there’s always room for a little space for grace.