Her Purse and His Blanket

She walks around carrying her purse filled with the pains and pangs of her past. There is a figurine that represents the time her mother slapped her. A card that represents her absent father and a coin that signifies the only time he ever paid child support. Her purse holds the weight of bad memories and hurts that she has allowed defining the very nature of who she is. Her bag is full of “I remember”. The leather’s signature is marked with PHPBR (Past Hurts, Pains, and Broken Relationships). She cannot embrace the wonderful feelings of bliss that will come along with releasing that old battered and beat-up bag of hers. She has allowed the purse to become an extra appendage.

He proudly slings his Linus Blanket over his shoulder and upon it is written the pains of past relationships personal, familial and intimate disappointments. The blanket is splattered with blood from the cuts both self-inflicted and from the wounds of his victims. He pretends to be open and ready however, he refuses to give up his invisible Linus Blanket. His blanket has become his cape. His blanket has become his shield. His blanket has become his identity.

So many people have allowed their past negative experiences to define their very existence. They have made I am declarations:

“I am a child of a hoe”

“I am someone that she lied to”

“I am this and I am that”

It is a sorrowful experience when you have chosen to continue to walk around battered, bruised, wounded, and unhealed when you know that healing and victory is yours. You give just enough however, you never completely release control because you are afraid of being hurt or new hurt so you continue to hold unto past hurt. Brother and Sister, life brings pain and disappointments and they both come with spiritual and intellectual growth. You cannot grow and mature when you continue to reside in the cave of rejection while sitting in your chair of disappointment and peering out the bars of solitary confinement. When you grow spiritually you realize that there is healing for you when you have been hurt. When you grow spiritually you realize your growth and liberation comes from your releasing those that hurt and injured you. When you have grown spiritually you receive the revelation that the same grace God extended and continues to extend to you should reasonably be extended to others.

There is a healing balm for you. My sister and my brother you do not have to continue carrying that heavy purse and your invisible cape of restriction and bondage. However, one word of advice from me to you, don’t invite other people into your life until you can offer them a whole man or woman.

 Monica Y.  Craig