Living life with pus.. not for the faint-hearted

On Wednesday I discovered that I had a boil under my arm. At first I thought it just a rash from the rabies vaccine I had for my trip to Africa until I checked it in the mirror and realised that it was a slightly annoying white bump with a red area around the outside. I didnt think much of it and like any pimple gave it a good squeeze- even poked it once or twice with a needle and then got on with my holiday. On Friday night whilst holidaying in Port Macquarie that innocent white bump had flared into a grapefruit sized lump under my arm that was so painful I couldnt lift my arm above my shoulder. I cried myself to sleep from the pain that night and convinced my host to take me to the Doctor the next day. After an hour and half wait (in total agony)  I got a script for some antibiotics and played the waiting game. Today I went back to the Doctor who wielded her scalpel and lanced the boil- lots more yuck came out, but it was worth it! I can lift my arm now!
So with anything you wonder what lessons can be learned from situations like this… for me it is a reminder to not live with unforgiveness.
If a situation makes you upset and angry deal with it- getting grumpy is natural but internalising it and not dealing with it just makes you store up pus for yourself for later. At first you can deal with it, but then… when you least expect it the lump grows and grows and needs to be lanced…
Solve it early. Forgive! If your not ready to talk to the person find a trusted confidante that you can share with who can pray with you and encourage you, forgive them again. Try not to talk about what about what happened to make you upset and bitter with everyone around you. This just helps contribute to the pus! Sometimes talking to the person who offended you isnt helpful. They have no idea that they have hurt you and will be hurt more if you say something. This though is the tricky bit- sometimes you need to share with that person what happened so that the healing can begin. It’s a matter for pray for time and for growth. Usually you find that in forgiving someone else you free yourself and the pain goes away.
A good antibiotic for everyone!