Forgiving the Burn

Most of us are taught to use pills and ointments to help us heal our pains. Is it possible that there is a more powerful medicine free for the asking?  I believe we can heal our pains with a simple thought, word and action.  I was given the opportunity to test my own beliefs. 

I was roasting potatoes in a skillet with a metal handle. The oven was set at 400 degrees.  When the potatoes were roasted, I took the skillet out of the oven and placed it on the stove, neglecting to leave the pot holder on the metal handle. A few moments later, I grabbed the hot handle and burned the tips and the creases on my left hand fingers.  The pain was excruciating, as serious burns tend to be.  My immediate reaction was to be in pain; and then I had a second thought: “Love myself through the pain.”  

I took a second to think about what loving a burn would feel like.  Immediately, I turned on the faucet and ran my fingers under the running tap water until it calmed the pain.  I then spoke to the burn on each finger, and this is what I said:

“I am so sorry I hurt myself.  Please forgive me for causing myself pain.  I love myself and I would never want to hurt me in any way.”  

I then proceeded to kiss each burn mark that had now clearly appeared on all four fingers and finger tips.  Yes, I actually kissed my pain away.  I continued this ceremony three times.  By then, the pain from the burn had noticeably subsided.  I felt in awe, and at the same time, empowered.  I was experiencing firsthand the power of the act of forgiveness. 

After a short while, I felt healed enough to work on my computer.  My fingers did not like that choice and they informed me quite clearly.  Immediately as I began typing, the pain and discomfort returned.  My burn was speaking and I understood the language:  “Are you serious?  You just burned me and now you are putting pressure on the burn points?  This is the pain you are causing me!”  I got the message!

I honored the language by soaking my fingers in a water bowl, and after the pain subsided, I spoke to my burn and kissed each finger tip again, letting my body know I was ready and willing to love it again. I stopped typing.

That was the last time I felt any pain from my serious burn.  By evening, the only sign that I had a burn at all was the red marks that appeared across the areas of my fingers that experienced the worst of the burn.  The pain was gone. 

If we are to heal, we must relearn how we treat our ‘self’ through the language of love and honor.  The simple act of forgiveness takes us right where our bodies are asking us to go.  All we have to do is enjoy the experience.  

I believe we each hold a power that is waiting to be recognized.  I am recognizing and honoring the power within me to be able to heal myself.