8 Weeks Since Venomous Bite

• 8 w e e k s • since I woke up with a venomous 🕷 bite.
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This is my routine for daily wound care. Even after the infection, the 7 day hospital stay, the antibiotic allergic reactions, the swelling, the pain, the muscle atrophy, and joint stiffness are gone, I am caring daily for a horrific looking wound.
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The wound is healing in the shape of a heart, nearly 3 inches across at the widest part. I’ve had 2 rounds of cutting out black, dead skin. Many layers of tissue are visible.
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When I asked what would happen if we didn’t cut out the dead skin, the doctor replied, “The necrotic (dead) skin could go deeper than what you see on the surface. The new tissues of skin and fat are trying to grow, but they’re hindered by the dead skin. They need to grow and attach to healthy skin.”
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I couldn’t help but think this is exactly what happens to our hearts. Many people have deep, painful heart wounds from the enemy’s attempts to kill, steal and destroy every bit of life on this planet. Yes, there is an actual enemy of humanity- not humanity itself.
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Some of the most common and damaging dead skin of the heart is FEAR and UNFORGIVENESS of self and others. FEAR flaunts itself in our culture today as the widely accepted STRESS and ANXIETY. UNFORGIVENESS looks like bitterness, resentment and self-hatred.
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Just like my physical wound, new skin and new life cannot grow on the heart that has layers of death on it. But there is one who knows exactly how to remove death from our hearts because He conquered it with His very LIFE! His name is J E S U S.
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The Lord stands ready, scalpel in hand, to do the hard, painful work of cutting out the dead so that the new can grow. He doesn’t chase us down with a scalpel to frighten us, but waits patiently until we are sick of feeling dead // broken // wounded // numb, and ready to place our fragile hearts in His capable, loving hands.
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The process is often painful, ugly and long, but when we allow Him to work, healing and growth and LIFE begin! I am caring daily for my wound, seeing wound care doctors every other week, and I have no idea when my skin will be fully healed. But I know that it will heal.
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The Lord has been my ever present help in trouble, the strong tower to which I run, the rock on which I stand and now I see a ❤️ every time I change my bandages. His reminders of LOVE are plentiful. He is good. He is our healer. And He always triumphs over death. 🙌🏼