The Cost of Healing

by Todd Matson

With a fault line

running through their

hearts, marriage, family,

children feeling caught in the

middle, the earth separating under

their feet, fears of falling into the blackness,

getting swallowed forever, they packed up the hurt,

brokenness, tears, anger, fear, helplessness and longing

to hope again, and they came. They opened up wounds old

and new, unpacked their pain, spoke of things they could not speak

of without escalating and spiraling out of control – feelings of betrayal,

rejection, abandonment, estrangement, loss of trust, respect and affection,

and they began to listen, to truly hear one another. For the first time since the

trouble started, they began to hope again that with time and effort they could make

it better, work it out, heal and forgive, feel something other than pain inside, come to love

again. Until they learned what coming back would cost. Only pennies on the dollar for addiction.

Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

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Todd Matson

Todd Matson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in North Carolina. His poetry has been published in The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Mindfull Magazine, and has been featured in Poetry for Mental Health.He has also written lyrics for songs recorded by a number of contemporary Christian music artists, including The Gaither Vocal Band.