Pain

Poor Honeybun is one unhappy puppy. Both dew claws were removed yesterday, as well as a broken canine tooth. The tartar was also scraped off her teeth, but I don't think that left any residual pain. She stumbled home and slept. I checked on her throughout the night and she didn't even open her eyes. This morning, she ate and stumbled out for a bathroom break, but then lay down again groaning. I am waiting for the latest dose of pain meds to kick in so I can unwrap the bandages which are supposed to come off this morning.

Unfortunately, when I plopped down on the hard floor next to her to comfort her, I must have plopped right on my bruised/broken coccyx. I could not sit up for a few moments, given the stars floating in my visual field and the dull knife being wrenched around my nether regions.
"Maybe it *is* broken," I said weakly, as my husband brought me ice.
So today, I am in more pain than yesterday, which is not good, and my poor Honeybun is in more pain than me, which is very not good. We take turns audibly groaning. It is pathetic, and we are both feeling very sorry for ourselves.

In both our cases, time will heal our wounds. I remember reading a comment by someone with a broken tailbone who said, "Just remember, it is ONLY pain. It is not real. It is nerve impulses."
I wanted to claw his eyes out.
Pain is real, and pain makes us want to escape whatever is causing the pain. Therefore, unlike dew claws, pain is designed with purpose. Sometimes, when the injury is past and the pain persists as we heal, I think it is less designed to encourage us to *escape* something and more designed to encourage us to run *towards* something. In Honeybun's case, she wants to be near me, her Master, no matter how much it hurts to limp following me. She is comforted knowing that I love her, and I will pet her, and give her little tasty pieces of steak to take her mind off the pain. In my case, it makes me want to cling to God, my Master, knowing that the world is filled with things that cause pain, and I want to hold on to the One who I know loves me, and will comfort me, and gives me the promise of Eternity where pain will no longer be necessary.


Revelation 21:4-7 (NIV)
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” [5] He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [6] He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. [7] Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

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