Stop Picking at The Scab

I saw a child fall off his bike not long ago. As he ran to his house crying and screaming for his mother, I couldn’t help but empathize with him, as I suspect we all have experienced similar pain.

I can only imagine that the exact same process was followed by every mother in every household, with every child who, at one time or another have come running through the door with a bruise or scrape. I’m not sure how it went in your house but in my house, it went something like this:

“You need to stop all that crying boy, you ain’t dead. If you don’t stop all that noise, I’m going to give you something to cry about.” Then she’d say, “Come over here and let me see what’s wrong. Ain’t nothing wrong with you but a little scrape. Go to the bathroom and bring me that bottle of Mercurochrome.”

Some of you don’t have a clue what Mercurochrome is, but back in the day this is what most households had in their medicine cabinet before peroxide. For those of you who need a reminder, this was the liquid that was reddish brown and when applied it stained your skin the same color. I recall it stinging like I don’t know what, but afterwards with that and a band-aid slapped on my knee I was back outside, tear-stained face and all, ripping and running with my friends.

Just a side note: the FDA banned the product a few years later because it contained mercury, and they were afraid people would get mercury poisoning.

In any case I would wear that band-aid like a badge of honor. I mean I would wear that thing until the adhesive wore off. Every time I noticed it hanging by one arm, I would do my best to make the other side stick. Finally, it would fall off without me noticing it was gone for hours. When I asked my mother for another one, she would always tell me no, saying, “You need to let it breathe” so it can heal. Not long after that I noticed a scab would start to grow.

When wounds heal and that new skin is forming it itches!! That itch might make you want to scratch and peel that scab, but you must learn to leave it alone. When we pick at wounds that are healing and pick off the scab, we can cause more damage and more healing time than if we would be patient and let the natural healing process take place.

Just like in life when going through a healing process or a letting go and moving forward stage we might have those “itch” moments where a feeling or memory comes through. But instead of acting on it and revisiting what’s behind you, understand that quick itch is nothing more than a sign of the healing process.

Does this sound like you? Although you have been divorced for years, till this day every time you see your ex- husband or wife you have something negative to say about him or her to your friends. Are you so angry about what went on between you and your “baby daddy” you won’t let him see his kids or talk with them on the phone even though, unlike some men, he wants to be involved in their lives?

Have you finally found yourself in a great relationship only to be unable to let go of the baggage from a previous one? Perhaps you’re still dealing with the pain of having a parent leave you years ago and you refuse to forgive them.

You have to let nature take its course and let the healing take place in your life. Keep your hands off! Allow God to clean that wound, put some “mercurochrome” and a band- aid of love around that wound, then open it up in order to let it heal. Let that scab grow and know underneath NEW skin is forming.

You have got to resist that urge to pick and scratch that scab. Keep your focus on God. Find scriptures that speak over your situation and constantly speak over yourself. Understand a healing process takes time; so, don’t get in the way.

Stop stalking and following your “Ex” on Facebook. Accept the fact that your problem with your “baby daddy” is between you and him and if you truly love your kids, you should not use them as pawns in the failed relationship. Find a way to let go of that “old baggage” before you miss your blessing. Forgive that parent. You may not know that their walking away may have been a blessing in disguise.

Before you know it that scab naturally falls off and you’re looking like new and many times better than before!!!