Update:
IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ: I have
been sending out daily updates in a mass mailing for the last few weeks. Now that my crisis phase is over and the
newness of my situation has faded, I realize that some of you may not wish to
receive the updates by email any more.
So here is the deal: 1) Those on Face Book can find my Updates and
Thoughts on my page. Just “Like” me and
you’ll see it posted. 2) My blog has every update that I posted,
so you can go there and follow my journey at stevenhurd.blogspot.com as
you desire. 3) Return an email message to me that lets me know
you want to keep receiving the update by email and I’ll remove all the people
that I don’t hear from, but I will keep sending it to you until you tell me to
stop. I appreciate your prayers and
support over the last month. You’ve
helped me stay on top. But I want to be
sensitive to “Inbox Overload.” I get too
much in my inbox every day to read it all, and I end up tossing things that I
signed up for without reading. I don’t
want to clutter your inbox with stuff you won’t read, so let me know.
Another first: I figured out how to take a shower without any
assistance. It takes quite a few moves
of the wheelchair and the walker to get everything in position but I did it! It is another step towards independence. Now I don’t have to wait to take a shower based
upon my wife’s schedule. When I finally
made it into the shower and settled down onto the shower stool, I realized that
I had left my glasses on. Ha! Ha! Not any good place to put them and I wasn’t
going to reverse my steps to get them out on the counter, so they got washed as
well…
I went out to see my buddy, Mel, at 3 p.m. yesterday. At 11:30 a.m. I thought I had plenty of time
to eat lunch, get dressed, and even take a short power nap so that I would be
fresh before Wilford picked me up. Two
phone calls, an important text message, and a visit later, I was rushing just
to get dressed, never mind the nap. Planning ahead and time management are a necessary
part of my day now. Unexpected (and
often pleasant) events have to be factored in as well. “Expect the Unexpected” is more than an ironic
slogan for those with handicaps or disabilities. That phrase does make me wonder if you can “Unexpect
the Expected”? Anyway, getting dressed
can take an amazing amount of time. Lay
all the clothes out on the bed. Put the
belt through the loops on the pants BEFORE putting them on. Laying on the bed getting dressed and then
realize that I left my leg brace out in the living room and I have to go get it
before putting my pants on. So it is up,
out, back, in and resume. Whew! Things placed slightly out of reach can be
frustrating and time consuming. Don’t
underestimate the amount of effort and time it takes someone who is ill or
injured just to show up!
Last night Karen and I celebrated our anniversary and New Year’s by
watching “Star Gate SG-1” episodes and then reading in bed until midnight. Old People!!!
I don’t have any exciting plans for New Year’s Day either. Maybe I’ll see if my bride wants to venture
out and take in a movie (Hunger Games?
The Hobbit?). That would be an
adventure!
Thought for the Day:
January 1st, 2014: it’s a new day and a brand new year. With a blanket of white snow covering the
ground, you can imagine that the slate has been wiped clean and you are
starting over fresh and new. It is like
the DO OVER button on an electronic game. Don’t like how the last game ended, then start
over! It is a day of possibilities and
the realization that we are not necessarily stuck wherever we were last
year. Isn’t it funny how flipping a page
on the calendar can elicit such feelings within us?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God offers us that same kind
of DO OVER; but not just once a year.
Any time we recognize that we have failed and our lives have become
soiled, He invites us to find forgiveness and cleansing. Confessing is merely telling God that you
have failed and you ask for His forgiveness.
Why is this necessary? Because our friendship with God becomes
strained and we cannot enjoy the benefits of our relationship if sin is
blocking His blessing and our access to Him.
Happy Start Over Day! Wishing you God’s best each and every day of
the new year!
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