[Firehazard]

ON PAIN --Kahlil Gibran

YOUR PAIN IS THE BREAKING OF THE SHELL
THAT ENCLOSES YOUR UNDERSTANDING

EVEN AS THE STONE OF THE FRUIT MUST
BREAK, THAT ITS HEART MAY STAND IN
THE SUN, SO MUST YOU KNOW PAIN.

AND COULD YOU KEEP YOUR HEART IN
WONDER AT THE DAILY MIRACLES OF YOUR
LIFE, YOUR PAIN WOULD NOT SEEM LESS
WONDEROUS OF YOUR JOY;

AND YOU WOULD ACCEPT THE SEASONS OF YOUR
HEART, EVEN AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS ACCEPTED THE
SEASONS THAT PASS OVER YOUR FIELDS.

AND YOU WOULD WATCH WITH SERENITY THROUGH THE
WINTERS OF YOUR GRIEF.

MUCH OF YOUR PAIN IS SELF CHOSEN.

IT IS THE BITTER POTION BY WHICH THE PHYSICIAN
WITHIN YOU HEALS YOUR SICK SELF.

THEREFORE TRUST THE PHYSICIAN, AND DRINK
HIS REMEDY IN SILENCE AND TRANQUILITY.

FOR HIS HAND, THOUGH HARD & HEAVY, IS GUIDED
BY THE TENDER HAND OF THE UNSEEN.

AND THE CUP HE BRINGS, THOUGH IT BURN YOUR LIPS, HAS BEEN
FASHIONED OF THE CLAY WHICH THE POTTER HAS MOISTENED
WITH HIS OWN TEARS.

Felt like sharing this as Gibran's powerful wisdom has helped me through my big ouches