Be Patient, It'll Take Time To Heal

A Gift for Mom! 🤍

“This is a traumatic injury. It’ll take time to heal.” My physical therapist’s words seemed to resonate with my soul. The whiplash, bruised limbs, and burned hand weren’t the only injuries that were slowly healing. My heart and mind were also still processing the wreck from a week prior.

It was not something just to get over. It took me days to get behind the wheel again. Even so, I only drove because I had no other choice. But I did so as slowly as I could and cried when I saw the trees I had significantly marked when I crashed. When it started to rain, I had to pull over. “Breathe,” I told myself.

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But in my mind, I was hydroplaning all over again. My car was out of my control, and despite all my efforts, the impact of the trees wreaked havoc in my mind, followed by my baby’s screams, and the stench of the airbags. The pain in my body hadn’t even registered till hours later.

It’ll take time to heal.

I knew that, though. I’ve had my share of trauma both in my early childhood and early 20s. I have been extensively counseled. I have journaled for years. I know what it takes to heal. So why was this so hard? Why couldn’t I just fast track my way through the healing process this go around? Isn’t there an expert mode for traumatic events?

Even the body knows the answer. Every burn, every broken bone, every laceration, every muscle injury . . . takes time to heal. The body doesn’t heal any faster just because it’s done it before. And the injury isn’t any less significant just because it’s not the first time. In fact, in some cases, repeated injuries are harsher on the body—the only difference is one has learned the tools it takes to help the process along, such as the right doctor to go to, the exact therapeutic exercises to practice, or the precise medication to take.

RELATED: Tragedy Changes You, But it Doesn’t Have To Ruin You

That said, why must it be any different for the mind and heart? It’ll take time to heal. The emotional damage isn’t any less significant. And over time, there are repeated issues that might leave us more vulnerable and drained. But—now we are familiar with the tools that can help our journey along.

So, I’m learning to be patient with myself and to give myself grace.

I don’t know when I’ll be able to drive again in the rain without having to actively rein my mind back in. I don’t know when my heart won’t freeze whenever a loud crash brings me back to the wreck. I don’t know when certain chemical smells won’t send me reeling back to those airbags. I don’t know when being in a vehicle with my daughters will not cause catastrophic fears to skyrocket.

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But I do know it’ll take time to heal. And it will heal eventually. Just like the brand new skin coming in after the burn on my hand. I’ll have a scar on my hand, and similarly, yet another scar in my heart. But scars tell a story. And I pray it’s a story I can recount and show to my daughters that in this harsh world, it’s OK to take time to heal.

So God Made a Grandmother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

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A Cogent

I am a blessed wife and working mama to two little girls, who are 18 months apart in age. Vocationally, I am a medical laboratory scientist; however, my favorite hobby is writing, highly influenced by my journey as a formerly single mom navigating beyond various traumas in my life. My sole purpose is to reach the one person who needs to know she is not alone.

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Be Patient, It’ll Take Time To Heal

RELATED: In Dark Times, God Reminds Us: No Shadow Lasts Forever

It’ll take time to heal.

RELATED: Tragedy Changes You, But it Doesn’t Have To Ruin You

So, I’m learning to be patient with myself and to give myself grace.

RELATED: Don’t Wait For a Tragedy to Love Your People Well

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

A Cogent

My Mom Was Just 13 When I Was Born. Now That I’m a Mother, I See Her Differently.

Why Don’t We Talk About Jonah’s Mother?

I Never Got to Meet My Grandmother on This Side of Heaven

The Hardest Part of Divorce Is Being Away from My Kids

My Dad Gave Us Something Money Never Could

Dear Daddy, I Wish You Could See Yourself As We Do

Mothers and Stepmothers: Who’s on First?

Do We Really Want a ’90s Summer?

To the Woman Who Was Betrayed

5 Things I’m Learning about 50

Get It Now

So God Made a Mother

Be Patient, It’ll Take Time To Heal

It’ll take time to heal.

So, I’m learning to be patient with myself and to give myself grace.

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

My Mom Was Just 13 When I Was Born. Now That I’m a Mother, I See Her Differently.

Why Don’t We Talk About Jonah’s Mother?

I Never Got to Meet My Grandmother on This Side of Heaven

The Hardest Part of Divorce Is Being Away from My Kids

My Dad Gave Us Something Money Never Could

Dear Daddy, I Wish You Could See Yourself As We Do

Mothers and Stepmothers: Who’s on First?

Do We Really Want a ’90s Summer?

To the Woman Who Was Betrayed

5 Things I’m Learning about 50

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