Because Sometimes It Takes Thinking Like a Marine to Heal

When a man or woman joins the Marine Corps, he or she enters boot camp. For the next 13 weeks these men and women have one purpose: learn to be a Marine.

Their way of thinking is addressed. Their way of acting is corrected. Their entire mentality and identity is altered so that when they leave boot camp, they live in such a way as to bring honor to the USMC.

These weeks are imperative in the making of a Marine. It is simply impossible to be a Marine without them. While these men and women are in boot camp, no one is bashing them for not being in a war zone shooting a gun. No one is telling them how they are failing the Corps because they are not covering someone's back. No one is trashing them for only in training.

People are praying for them to succeed. Their instructors are working with them to become the best they possibly can be, usually even better than they thought they could be. People are proud of them for making the choice to think beyond themselves, to see a bigger picture, to look beyond the right now...to see the possibilities of a better life for themselves and for others.

No one considers boot camp a waste of time.

On the contrary, boot camp is essential to stepping out of the present and into the possible.

What does boot camp have to do with healing? Everything.

Because if you heal correctly...
...the way you see yourself changes.
...the way you think changes.
...the way you act changes.
...the conviction of purpose is born.

When you heal well, you no longer see yourself as a victim or as weak. You know longer see a screw up who always gets it wrong. You no longer define yourself by others attitudes, actions, and words.

Instead you realize...

You are strong.
You are essential.
You have the power to change how YOU act.
You choose to define yourself.
You define yourself according to the value God gave you and according to how HE sees you.
You choose how you respond to people and situations.
You set yourself free from the prison of the lies that have kept you chained to brokenness and allow yourself the freedom to investigate and enjoy being the masterpiece God made you to be.

You no longer see what was or has been.

You see what can be.

 

THAT is what healing does.

Healing allows you to step out of the present

and

into the possible.
 

Unfortunately, it usually takes more than 13 weeks, but when you reach the other side and realize how far you've come and you are so thrilled with this person you've become and so proud of the battles you've won...then you know...you didn't waste your time all. You invested it in you.