Pain has made me who I am today. But, the people that abused me did not give me a gift.

The way I see it, I was abused and in pain. Then, God looked down and smiled on me. He blessed me with the intelligence and the courage to gain the skills to overcome what had happened to me. God sent angels in disguise to lift me up, point me in the right direction, and help me through this, out of the dark tunnel I was in. Now, I am stronger and smarter and able to help others.

Pain has made me who I am today. But it is God who gave me the gifts and blessings.

AMEN, Chynablue!!!! If it were not for the pain, I would be emotionless. In no way am I happy about the pain, but as I look back at all the terrible things the pain could have caused me to do, I can take great joy that instead, I used it to draw closer to God and refine my own life..............Molly

Pain is a gift in that it can help to be able to feel it strongly.....but like chynablue said, is a tough one in perhaps how you come by the ability and can tear you down also, unless you can learn how to channel it.

I thought a similar thing when someone first drew attention to my hair going a little grey at the temples a couple of years ago and he was mean about it and for a while i was upset. Then I was watching this programme that has this social worker in it and she has beautiful grey hair and she cares so much about the world and the people in it, and despite all i've been through, or maybe because of, i try to do that to the best of my ability too....and i thought, well, if grey hair shows the stress i've been through and shows the care i feel for the world, then bring it on

"I can take great joy that instead, I used it"

"how you come by the ability and can tear you down also"

how beautiful :)

Oh yes, pain is a gift like hemorroids.

There is so much pain in the world, we don't need to add to it.

I can't dance when I'm in pain. Dancing's the gift, pain a what you trudge through like mud to get to where you're going so you can dance. IMHO

LOL @ #5. I couldn't have said it better!

I hate peoples need to ascribe good qualities to one of the worst stress disorders out there. I'm all for being positive, but I'm not going to lie to myself and say that I was given a "gift!"

Will some one or karma quit giving me all these gifts

Beautiful story Jenny - what a thing to go through, i'm glad you are recovering.

Andreadufresne - i know what u mean about that, sometimes it is very annoying, but i guess some days it helps to look at it that way, when you can. For me it does anyway.

embrace pain

The only time did me any good was when I was driving home and it was a long drive, and I was sleepy but my foot hurt me like hell helping me to stay awake.
We don't have to be joyously happy all of the time, but remember, suffering may be inevitable, but misery is optional.
I am satisfied with peace and contentment, and lately that has been hard.

Ahhh, the Buddhist quote is "PAIN is inevitable, SUFFERING is optional..."

Suffering is something that we endure as a result of trying to escape pain.

My mind can't stretch around virlaceygo trying to quote a Buddhist, but the thoughts are good in both cases.

My bad Andrea, got the quote wrong. Same thing though. Pain and suffering may be inevitable, but it is up to us if we are miserable and sit on the pity pot.
Thanks StKevin for your snide remarks about me as usual.