Update:
I was blessed yesterday by a beautiful oak
table that Dick Bedward made for me.
Sitting in a wheelchair, all the kitchen cabinets are too tall for me to
comfortably work on. So Dick made a
table for me, just my height, making it comfortable to prepare food, etc. Thank you, Dick.
Yesterday, I found a nut on the floor that fell off my wheelchair. I couldn’t find where it came from. This morning I found out that it came off of
one of the wheel brakes. It isn’t safe
to do an unassisted transfer in or out of the chair without both brakes being
locked. Karen had to rush off to work
and now I am waiting for a friend to come over and repair the brake. Isn’t it interesting how just one small
little piece makes all the difference?
Taking care of the tiniest details is so important.
I enjoyed learning more about my new Kindle Fire and loaded apps and
books on it yesterday. I found that it
was REALLY nice reading in bed with it.
No heavy book to hold and I could change the font size so it was easy
for me to read. Last night when I woke
up at 2 a.m., I read for a little while and then drifted back off to sleep
contemplating what I had read.
I am planning on being at church again tomorrow although I will not be
preaching. I will do announcements, take
the offering and those kinds of things, but I didn’t feel ready to prepare for
a message yet. Mel Jensen will be
preaching in my place. I do plan to lead
the 8 p.m. Christmas Eve Service and then hopefully resume preaching in
January.
I’ve made lots of strides forward in reduction of pain, and I have more
strength and endurance; however I can feel that I have a long way to go before
I am 100%. Office work and all the
little details that I use to handle really take it out of me yet. I go on Monday to the surgeon’s office. If everything looks good, he’ll begin
removing the staples. Most of my leg has
healed very nicely. I have a couple of
spots that seem to be healing a little more slowly, although they show signs of
improvement too.
Over the last few days, I’ve had the almost constant feeling that I
still have a foot on my left leg. I read
that massaging the stump and just touching it a lot can help reduce those
feelings. I guess it helps the brain to
realize the leg is really gone. It has
really helped reduce those phantom feelings that I have been experiencing.
I don’t plan on writing an Update/Thought again tomorrow on
Sunday. I’ll take a break and then get
back to you on Monday (12/23).
Thought for the Day:
Many Police Officers and
Firefighters/Rescue/EMS personnel will see more pain and suffering in a year
than most of us will ever witness in our lifetime. That constant barrage of pain and suffering
can have a negative effect on their view of God. “How can a loving God allow this to
happen?” It is easy to perceive that the
universe works on the basis of only random chance. Those who suffer horrible pain often face it
without seeing any hope, any value, and any reason. That makes the suffering all the more bitter.
I started reading a book that was recommended to me, entitled, “Walking
With God Through Pain and Suffering” by Timothy Keller. I haven’t gotten too far, but I’ve enjoyed
the read so far. Keller suggests that
out of all cultures, societies and even religious groups, our secular western
culture has the most difficult time with the idea of pain and suffering. We have elevated the pursuit of pleasure and
happiness as the ultimate goal in life and therefore have removed any concept
of how we deal with pain and suffering as a significant response. Most other cultures and religions see pain
and suffering as a normal part of life and how people deal with it is a part of
their growth as human beings.
I am not suggesting that pain and suffering is good; but if you’ve got
to go through it, you might as well get whatever benefit that you can from
it. My Christian faith allows me to
believe that God can use the bad and evil in my life for my benefit.
Romans
8:28 And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.
I can learn patience, relying upon God, I can
be a good example to others on how to suffer well, etc. It doesn’t make pain and suffering pretty and it wouldn’t
be something I would pray and ask God to give me. But if I have to go through it anyway, it
helps if I can believe that there might be some benefit to it.
As a friend to someone suffering, be very careful about
spouting platitudes like, “God never gives us more than we can handle” or “God
is going to use this for good in your life” while they are in the middle of the
storm. The bible also says,
Romans 12:15 Rejoice
with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
In other words, when someone is
really hurting and suffering, cry with them and let them know you feel their
pain. Don’t be telling them about all
the wonderful things the suffering is doing for them. The time to speak those words may come later,
but not right now.
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