The sun announces itself through my naked window, awakening me before my wind-up alarm clock plays “Love Story.” It’s 1978, and I’m getting ready for high school. A heaviness comes over me as I walk down the familiar hallway to my mother’s bedroom, hoping to see that she has lifted her “curtain of hurtin,” allowing the sun to shine into her very dark world. Thankfully, her sadness was only for a season, but it was that season that fueled me to shine a light into the souls of women.

For a long time, I was insecure and lacked confidence, but did not genuinely know why. I hid behind my own “curtain of hurtin.” My mother’s sadness seemingly had taken residence in my heart. It was confusing because deep inside lurked a restless tiger ready to take on the world, but my tiger did not have the strength to fight its way to the surface of that timid little girl.

It wasn’t until years later, through my Life Coaching, that I discovered I was filtering everything through my “curtain of hurtin.” It is written, “and after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10

Friends, never feel as though your pain will go without gain for another! This life of yours will be tested, but nothing you encounter is without purpose. We have all had tragedy and hurt, and typically respond to life with our own “curtain of hurtin.”

Walking into a room with covered windows will always take me back to that place of my mother’s darkness. I have a choice though: to stay in that darkness or walk boldly up to that window, draw back the curtain and bring the light back in!

Aren’t you tired of living behind your “curtain of hurtin?” You may feel safely hidden, but everyone around you can see your curtain. How do you want to be remembered? Allow someone who loves and cares enough for you to open that curtain, let the light of God in, and feel the warmth of the Son on your face.