--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a good steward of your pain…" description: "\"Being a good steward of your pain. . . . It involves being alive to your life. It involves taking the risk of being open, of reaching out, of keeping i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/frederick-buechner-883_alive_being-a-good-steward-of-your-pain-it-inv_3201972.png" --- # Being a good steward of your pain. . . . It involves being… ![“Being a good steward of your pain. . . . It involves being alive to your life. It involves taking the risk of being open, of reaching out, of keeping in touch with the pain as well as the joy of what happens because at no time more than at a painful time do we live out of the depths of who we are…” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/frederick-buechner-883_alive_being-a-good-steward-of-your-pain-it-inv_3201972.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/frederick-buechner-883_alive_being-a-good-steward-of-your-pain-it-inv_3201972.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/frederick-buechner-883_alive_being-a-good-steward-of-your-pain-it-inv_3201972.png) > “Being a good steward of your pain. . . . It involves being alive to your life. It involves taking the risk of being open, of reaching out, of keeping in touch with the pain as well as the joy of what happens because at no time more than at a painful time do we live out of the depths of who we are instead of out of the shallows.” [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing pain fully leads to deeper authenticity and a richer, more courageous life. **In simple terms:** Facing pain deepens authenticity. Key Takeaway Allow vulnerability to grow. Themes pain authenticity growth Mood introspective encouraging Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - spiritual practice - creative work Key Concepts theology psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does pain reveal your true self? - What steps help you stay open to joy amid suffering? A Different Perspective Pain can be overwhelming if not balanced with support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Good Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-steward-2837878/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Involves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-involves-2370599/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Involves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-involves-4195819/) [Pain Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-joy/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Painful times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful-times/) [Reach out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach-out/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Steward Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steward-pain-1394174/) [Stewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stewards/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Who we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-we-are/) ## Related quotes > [Pain involves the violation or transgression of the border between inside and outside, and it is through this transgression that I feel the border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/pain-involves-the-violation-or-transgression-of-the-border-between/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“You are a meticulous steward of the pain and injustices people have visited upon you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/you-are-a-meticulous-steward-of-the-pain-and-injustices-people-have/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [For many people, managing pain involves using prescription medicine in combination with complementary techniques like physical therapy, acupuncture, yoga and massage. I appreciate this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-judd/for-many-people-managing-pain-involves-using-prescription-medicine-in/) [Naomi Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-judd/) > [“You are a steward of the pain and injustices people have visited upon you. Or, if you prefer we could call you a scrupulous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/you-are-a-steward-of-the-pain-and-injustices-people-have-visited-upon/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. Read good books, have good sentences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kenyon/be-a-good-steward-of-your-gifts-protect-your-time-feed-your-inner/) [Jane Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kenyon/) > [There's only so much that I have control over and then the rest has really been a gift from God and I'm trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-slater/there-s-only-so-much-that-i-have-control-over-and-then-the-rest-has/) [Matthew Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-slater/) > [Journaling is a way to be a good steward of the Spirit's illuminations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/journaling-is-a-way-to-be-a-good-steward-of-the-spirit-s-illuminations/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > ["Being a good steward" and "placing your hope in" is not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/being-a-good-steward-and-placing-your-hope-in-is-not-the-same-thing/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [“Becoming a good steward is more important than you getting your own breakthrough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/becoming-a-good-steward-is-more-important-than-you-getting-your-own/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I want to be a good steward and make sure what's in my heart is what God wants, and then once it's done and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-daigle/i-want-to-be-a-good-steward-and-make-sure-what-s-in-my-heart-is-what/) [Lauren Daigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-daigle/) > [Maybe life involves the pairing of unsuitable people, those who wait and those who keep others waiting, and the key to happiness is finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/maybe-life-involves-the-pairing-of-unsuitable-people-those-who-wait/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [For most people their ideal life involves an intimate relationship with another person; one which often has a sexual basis. But there's no logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/for-most-people-their-ideal-life-involves-an-intimate-relationship/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Democracy is a life, and involves continual struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-la-follette-sr/democracy-is-a-life-and-involves-continual-struggle/) [Robert M. La Follette, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-la-follette-sr/) > [“Life involves a lot of unknowns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-wallace/life-involves-a-lot-of-unknowns/) [S.L. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-wallace/) > [Life involves passions, faiths, doubts, and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-royce/life-involves-passions-faiths-doubts-and-courage/) [Josiah Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-royce/) ## More by Frederick Buechner > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it didfor millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-impossible-to-conceive-how-different-things-would-have-turned/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [At least to look back over their own lives, as I have looked back over mine, for certain themes and patterns and signals that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/at-least-to-look-back-over-their-own-lives-as-i-have-looked-back-over/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Snobs are people who look down on other people, but that does not justify our looking down on them. Who can say what dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/snobs-are-people-who-look-down-on-other-people-but-that-does-not/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I could, of course, have done no more if no less than affiliated myself in one way or another with a particular church, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-could-of-course-have-done-no-more-if-no-less-than-affiliated-myself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/even-the-saddest-things-can-become-once-we-have-made-peace-with-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [A Christian isn't necessarily any nicer than anybody else, just better informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/a-christian-isn-t-necessarily-any-nicer-than-anybody-else-just-better/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“The things that the world fills time with are enough to turn the heart to stone, but the goodness of time itself is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-things-that-the-world-fills-time-with-are-enough-to-turn-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The pride that keeps us from forgiving is the same pride which keeps us from accepting forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-pride-that-keeps-us-from-forgiving-is-the-same-pride-which-keeps/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but a the same time you carry them with you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/you-can-kiss-your-family-and-friends-good-bye-and-put-miles-between/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [If the truth is worth telling, it is worth making a fool of yourself to tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-the-truth-is-worth-telling-it-is-worth-making-a-fool-of-yourself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I suspect that Jesus spoke many of his parables as a kind of sad and holy joke and that that may be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-suspect-that-jesus-spoke-many-of-his-parables-as-a-kind-of-sad-and/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“How Adewen stuffed her braid in her mouth at that! Or she'd cover her mirth with her hands and shake till you'd think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/how-adewen-stuffed-her-braid-in-her-mouth-at-that-or-she-d-cover-her/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/resurrection-means-that-the-worst-thing-is-never-the-last-thing/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) [Explore all 339 Frederick Buechner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a good steward of your pain. . . . It involves being alive to your life. 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