It hurts... but it helps.

"Pain is an unpleasant sensation often associated with damage to the body. Pain motivates us to withdraw from potentially damaging situations, protect a damaged body part while it heals, and avoid those situations in the future. Most pain resolves promptly once the painful stimulus is removed and the body has healed, but sometimes pain persists despite removal of the stimulus and apparent healing of the body; and sometimes pain arises in the absence of any detectable stimulus, damage or disease. The ability to experience pain is essential for protection from injury, and recognition of the presence of injury."

Truer words were never spoken. I'm thankful for pain. I never really thought I'd say that, what a sobering thought. We can learn a lot from pain if we try. Granted, learning from pain is learning the hard way, but at least it's learning. I've always heard it said that pain is a part of life, I just never realized it could be a good part. What happens when you reach for something and you don't realize it's very hot? It burns you... and you let go. That reflex of letting go can save your hand, or even your life. Burns are difficult to heal, yes. There are many complications from burns, many risks of infection, and much, much pain. Burns always leave scars, always. But most burns heal... with time. May we never take pain for granted. May we learn from it and appreciate it's benefits. May we learn to be thankful for life's painful lessons, and may we respond to the pain and let go of what is hurting us.