Have you ever had a thorn in your flesh?
  Not speaking metaphorically here, it hurts!
 

While I was in Swaziland, I learned how to drive a motorbike; or rather, started to learn.
  I zoomed around a soccer field a few times on my first lesson (after about 10 stalls of trying to get it into first).
  The second lesson was a little less successful.
  I went through a thorn bush, into a ravine and landed with the bike on top of my right leg.
  With a crowd gathered around, I brushed myself off, felt a cold wetness on my leg and calmly walked my trembling legs into the church we were at.
  When I got to a more secluded place, I lifted up my skirt to find my legs torn up and my knee starting to swell.
  It was painful, but I was lucky.
  I cleaned up as much as possible and pulled a couple of two-inch thorns out of my leg.
  I thought I got them all out, but my legs were numb from the pain all over, so it was undistinguishable.
 

I traveled back to the states with a crazy story and my battle wounds (there still is the little kid

in me that is proud of them).
  Now, more than five days later, I am finding pieces of Africa still in me… literally.
  I pulled an inch-long thorn from my foot.
  It was simply a bump that almost looked like a painful mosquito bite.
  The skin had begun to seal it.
  Another thorn in my flesh was very deep and surrounded by a painful wound that was becoming more infected because of the festering thorn.
  That came out with a little more difficulty.
  There are still some places where I think there are still thorns, but are too deep to get to right now.

There is a point to this graphic description (sorry to all the queasy readers).
  Through this experience, God has shed new light on what Paul was referring to when he referred to the thorn in his flesh.
 

·
       

Thorns often come from painful circumstances or events.
  Although it may have caused great pain, we may have walked away like we weren’t hurt.
  It isn’t until we survey the past and look at our wounds that we see the damage.

·
       

It may not be until much later, after the “initial clean-up” that we discover the deep thorns.
  They can look very different.
  Some are neatly covered, others are open and infected.
 

·
       

It is not easy taking thorns out.
  Sometimes you have to dig deep, and have someone with experience and expertise help.

·
       

Sometimes they just have to work themselves out.
  Even with hard work, it may cause more damage to take them out.
  They will naturally work themselves out in time, as long as you take care of the wound and do not irritate them.

·
       

Even though properly taken care of, the aftermath still hurts.
  There is still healing to be done after the thorn is removed.

·
       

Sometimes the thorn will leave a scar.
  Although it doesn’t hurt or affect you anymore, the scar remains a part of you.
  Whether to remind you of the healing that has taken place, or to remind you of your own weakness, or as a lesson to others, it now serves a good purpose.

Whatever thorns life’s circumstances have brought us, there is always a process for healing.
  Most of the time, the process is painful and difficult.
  But it is well worth it!
  We may diligently seek its removal, but to no avail.
  God’s grace is sufficient, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness!