A Danish Christmas Tale (Chapter 6)

Hello All,

Have you ever tried very hard to push away unpleasant memories? Have you ever attempted to eject those painful memories through various forms of distraction?

Distractions may help for the short term but in the long term, we find feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety resurfacing without any apparent reason.

We often push those memories away instead of dealing with them, reflecting on them and bringing them to God in prayer. Because of that, we are often unable to link our feelings with those memories.

A Danish Christmas Tale

Chapter 6: Friendship in Bloom

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (17 October 2016)

Dedicated to a dear friend who inspired the poem.

Their friendship flourished and bloomed as the weeks flew by

Stories were shared over tea and bread made from rye

They shared scrumptious Danish cookies and custard pies

Food has connected folks in ways we can’t deny

They were reading books in the library one day

‘Ashley, I think I have recalled something today’

Surprised, Ashley asked, ‘Oh, is everything okay?’

Cindy thought a while of what she wanted to say

‘Piano lessons were a dreadful affair for me

My mind has sought to repress all my memory

I was a stubborn child; perhaps even lazy

My piano teacher hit me when she was angry’

Cindy looked down dolefully in retrospection

‘That must have been hard,’ said Ashley with compassion

Cindy asked Ashley after some contemplation:

‘Would it be better to have no recollection?’

‘It’s better to remember the trauma and pain

Than to bury them in ignorance and disdain

It’s better to recall them again and again

Than having the feelings, but no memory, of pain

Only then can emotional healing take place

Only then can we find healing in God’s embrace

Let us continue following God in good pace

For there will be a day when all hurts are erased’

I was hurt by the one who should have cared for me

Each night I remember the dreadful memory

But I know that God’s healing is taking place slowly

Great is His compassion, faithfulness, and mercy’

TO BE CONTINUED…

Points for Reflection:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV)

·         Cindy was not consciously pushing away painful memories. She was a victim of mistreatment at a young, tender age. Her unconscious mind, which was acting as a form of defense mechanism, sought to repress those painful memories.

·         However, over the course of time, those memories resurfaced. Although it was painful to relive the traumatic experiences in her mind, Ashley knew that her friend had finally embarked on a long journey to recovery.

·         Both Ashley and Cindy experienced traumatic abuse in their childhood. With the comfort that Ashley had received from God in prayer, she, in turn, comforted her dear friend.

·         Christ experienced excruciating suffering on the cross. He was cruelly scorned, whipped 39 times and His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. He understands our pain for He has borne them on the cross. He died in our place to spare us the pain of facing God’s eternal judgment for our sin. Those who trust in Christ are spared from the greatest pain of mankind. Isn’t that comforting to hear?

·         What unpleasant or painful memories have you been attempting to push away? Why don’t you bring your struggles to God in prayer?

·         Do you know of anyone struggling with such memories? Pray for them. Comfort them. Remind them of God’s love.