Lessons in Pain

Pain is an unwelcome guest

A thief who steals our peace and rest

It invades our body and mind

And leaves its mark on all we find.

It comes in many forms and kinds

A constant throb, a piercing grind

A burning ache, a sharp sting

Each one a different song to sing.

The physical pain that we endure

Can test our will and make us unsure

It can make us feel so small

And question if we can take it all.

But pain is not just felt within

It can come from where we’ve been

A heartbreak, a loss, a tragedy

Each one a different type of malady.

The pain of grief is a heavy weight

That we carry with us, often late

It can bring us to our knees

And make us beg for sweet release.

The pain of rejection can sting like fire

And fill us with an endless desire

To be accepted, loved, and seen

To be validated, and to feel clean.

The pain of guilt can be the worst

A constant reminder of what we’ve cursed

It can eat away at our soul

And leave us feeling less than whole.

But pain is not just a curse to bear

It can be a gift, a lesson to share

It can teach us what we need to know

And help us grow and learn and glow.

For in the pain we find our strength

And learn what it means to go to great lengths

To overcome, to persevere

To find the light and banish fear.

So though pain is an unwelcome guest

It can also be a guide to our best

It can teach us what it means to be alive

And help us find the courage to thrive.