My life is clay on the pottery wheel waiting anxiously for the Potter's mighthy hands to take control, to remove pieces of the clay that will destroy the work of art, adding to the clay what you desire as the Potter.

You are my Creator, the one who shapes and molds the clay, you pull it up and smooth out the rough areas. You are the Potter who takes me into your awesome hand, pouring the water of life over me to keep from becoming hard and unshapeable. Your hands create a beautiful piece of art something that will represent your great power, strength, love and awesome ability. You place me into the firey furnance to complete your new creation. After withstanding the powerful flames.
You remove me from the fire, completely new, shining and a pure vessel. Another beautiful Masterpiece, by the Master of all pieces.

The Potter's Creation
Starletha Cherry
Copyright ©2004 Starletha Cherry

A band-aid/bandage is used to cover a cut, gash, scrape or surgical procedure. It is applied immediately or as soon as possible after the wound to protect it from further injury or the elements and germs that cause infection. The band-aid/bandage is usually applied with some type of antibiotic ointment to ensure proper healing; it should be changed on a regular basis. The wound also needs to get air and be cleansed regularly in order to advance the healing process.

The wounded party does not always follow instructions of changing the band-aid/bandage. If proper care is not administered then infection is probable and may cause a delay in healing that could have been avoided. At this point you are probably wondering what a band-aid/bandage has to do with the purpose of this message? Because the purpose of this message is to actually remove any and all band-aids/bandages as this journey of “why” begins.

Now that the introduction is complete lets get real about what the band-aid/bandage signifies. It is a temporary aid or fix to cover up what is wounded. It supplies a covering for open wounds until it heals. As adults all have experienced a wound or two in their lives. After the wound has been inflicted, a covering is applied to keep anything or anyone away from that wound. Well, lets acknowledge the wound, remove the band-aid/bandage and allow the healing process to take place.

How does this happen? By removing the covering from the wound, it now has exposure to all elements of everyday life. The wound has opportunity to be exposed to the sun, water (that signifies cleansing and healing), other germs and even the possibility of the wound being re-opened. If the wound is re-injured it may require some intense care. Cleansing deeply, washing out the puss and ugly infection with (saline solution), stronger antibiotics a crème and/or oral form. This would be considered a relapse and a longer process to heal.

As long as the wound is covered it takes longer to get to the place of healing. The band-aid/bandage may be changed on a regular basis and antibiotics taken as instructed are not all one must do. A part of the process of healing is the scab that is covering the wound, but still deep under the band-aid/bandage the wound is still raw.

If the wound is bumped and the scab comes off before healing is complete the wound begins to hurt and possibly bleed again. But as the wound is allowed to breathe (dealing with whatever the issue is) the wound starts to heal and feel better on a daily basis. Since healing starts from the inside and work it’s way outward, then each day the wound is receiving the proper care needed. Because the proper care is being administered the wound should not be something to cover up in shame. Why not? Because other people will be able to witness the wound as it heals and recognize the healing process.

Don’t be afraid of removing your band-aid/bandage from your wound because someone else maybe experiencing or has experienced that same wound. Now they are searching for the way to get their wound(s) healed. Know that you hold the answer to others healing if you allow your wound and scars to be seen by others.

Please understand that it is okay to share your healing process to help another person reach a place of healing of their wounds. In closing, accept this paper to assist you in healing your wounds and embrace the scars, because they have made you a stronger and better person.

Submitted by: Starletha D. Cherry
Essay: Women Weight & Why
Title of Essay: Band-Aid or Bandage The Temporary Cover-up
Date: July 25, 2004

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORSHIP:I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. I have also cited any sources from which I used data, ideas, or words, either quoted directly or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by me specifically for this group.

Copyright ©2004 Starletha Cherry

Everyone has a desire to be on the mountaintop and we all expect life’s journeys to lead us to the top. Everyone will experience love at some point in his or her life. The emotions of love, trust, integrity, morals and commitments the mountain top experiences.

Everyone has a desire to be successful, achieve some goals in life, complete school/college, own a home, be financially stable, and have a family. Still experiencing the mountaintop. But when the emotions of betrayal, dishonesty, hurt, abuse, addictions, the ups and downs of life raise their ugly heads, we find ourselves in the valley. Devastation or what appears to be devastation carries us to the valley we feel so alone, not sure why this has occurred. Even asking, Why me? Why not you?

Because In The Valley I Grow

Editor
Starletha Cherry

Copyright ©2004 Starletha Cherry