Stitches

        "A "stitch in time saves nine" as the saying goes. Repair a hole, a tear before it gets bigger. Stitching by hand takes more concentration than stitching by machine and that is obvious but perhaps in that concentrated activity, more is gained. We sometimes sacrifice the benefits of using the hands and mind in the interest of saving time and getting quantity taken care of instead of quality.

        At one time who would ever have thought that the body could be 'stitched' and skin carefully placed together in such a way that little evidence of the trauma causing it can be seen. So why are we talking about stitching? Can those who do not sew relate to such a subject? We can stitch things together but interestingly enough, that is not usually used except in concrete examples such as skin or material. We all have gaps in ourselves ...emotional tears and wounds and scars. How do we close these emotional gaps, these areas that need to be "stitched" in order to heal? How do we stitch? What do we use to mend? Of course, as is obvious to many, there are individuals who never mend and are "falling apart". To carry the idea further, if we stitched up the small wounds they would not get bigger, but if they are allowed to tear us apart further, then the stitching becomes much more complicated and complex.

        What do we use as thread? How do we close these emotional areas that need to be stitched? We know that there are different skill levels on all things and some may be much better at repairing than others. In serious cases, we have to go to the experts whose occupation is to repair - whether it is physical, mental, or emotional. Yet, in so many little ways, we need to repair as we go through life and not allow the little gaps to become much bigger. It takes intelligent awareness, a certain amount of objectivity, a distancing from the cause of the wound to see the entire picture. We need to deliberately and carefully separate the emotion, to set it aside, and as hard as it may seem, to look at all sides of the particular situation. That is only the first step, and it may be the hardest one. It takes time and sometimes patience. When we feel we have recovered the facts involved and we can let go of the pain involved we can then begin to heal. The next step is to use the understanding and caring and add comfort. Too often we forget to comfort ourselves. We need to forgive ourselves realizing that mistakes are made and we learn from them. As we take these ingredients and form a thread, we can stitch the area and cover it with healing qualities. It is not an overnight thing though it would certainly be nice if it were. Little steps, little stitches can, in time, heal.....a little understanding, a little love, a little comfort and a little thought can help us to mend."