Bruises are funny things.

In my nursing profession, I know them to mean that a collection of blood has formed under the surface of skin. If the discoloration grows or spreads in the beginning stages, or makes a lump under the surface (we call that a hematoma) then the bleeding has not ceased but continues- which requires manual pressure to the site, a form of coagulation, or even surgery to stop the flow of blood.

After the bleeding stops under the surface, this interesting pattern of color appears. As the blood cells are reabsorbed the color changes more until the skin returns to its original tone.

The bruise tells the story.

The size and location speak to the injury.

The color determines the time of the healing process.

However, it is not like a scar, which may forever stick with you. A bruise will disappear after time and take with it all the physical memories while leaving the emotional ones on the inside for only you to see….whereas a scar is there for the world to see for a much longer period of time- if it goes away at all or simply fades.

I have bruises on my body that are healing and will go away to leave me to process the memory of my recent experience of illness..and I will gain more as the recovery process begins to bring about stabilization.

But, I have loved ones who have scars.

And their scars have, in fact, bruised me in a different way than an IV or multiple blood draws ever could.

Their pain affects me in a place where only I feel the affects and feel the bruise. Only I can feel the manual pressure held onto my heart to stop the bruise from spreading and then watch it change colors slowly with its healing.

Just to be bruised again.

My bruises will heal while their scars will remain.

This is what I am learning about being bruised:

Loving someone means you feel their pain with them…even it gets messy or complicated.

Loving someone means you stay put under the pressure even when the bruising hurts and you want to be freed from the press that is crushing you.

Loving someone means to forgive them for being hurtful because they hurt….Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” as He was being “hurt” through His crucifixion- what an example to follow!

Loving someone means being patient in the affliction….there is not always a set time table to a resolution and we all know problems don’t happen at a convenient time either.

My bruises are healing but I will be bruised again- this I know.

I can’t help but to stay put, to step into the battle, to intercede, to beg for mercy, to shower those I love with love- whether it is received well or perceived as a nuisance…I can’t stop anymore than I can stop breathing.

Our bodies were made to handle the bruising, to contain the injury, and to heal…

So was my spirit.

Psalm 16:11 tells me that God has made known to me the path of life

(past tense- He has shown me already His plan through Jesus so the search should be over about what path to follow- I choose LIFE)

He will fill me with joy in His presence…

(I better keep getting into it then)

Stage 4 cancer has bruised me.

The war on depression has bruised me.

Fear of the unknown has bruised me.

Anxiety over the choices others can make that have the ability to deeply wound me has bruised me.

My own limitations and weaknesses in situations have bruised me.

But…with God’s grace, I will stay and allow myself to be available to be bruised again because I choose to live a life of loving others.

Jesus Calling writes that God will never lead me to do something without first equipping me for the task.

I have been equipped to heal and to stand again.

So…using words I choose to take out of context and inject deeper meaning into…I will go with you.

Help me, Lord, to be joyful in hope and faithful in prayer as I go where the hurting happens.