punishments of God

what punishments of God are not gifts

each time i suffer, i feel like the feeling
will be permanent.

i forget that crisis is temporary and i
do not have to hurt forever.

however, each time i enter into trauma
i find myself a gift

life is a gift. happiness is a gift.
suffering is a gift.

one cannot find happiness unless
you have found suffering.

through heartache, i have found
compassion and love.

i have found awareness of the
suffering of others.

and i can make peace with my trauma
knowing it has grown my empathy.