Update:
I had another fun-filled medical appointment day on Monday. Karen and I left the house at 9:45 a.m. and
got back home after 4 p.m. I met with my
physical therapist and we went over all the exercises that I had been
doing. He ended up showing me a few more
to do and refined some of the ones I had been doing. Overall, he was pleased with my strength, the
movement that I had, and my consistency in exercising. I do have to work at stretching my “good” leg
out better; that involves lying on my stomach with a strap around my ankle and
pulling it towards my head (I am literally pulling my own leg—so the joke is on
me). I felt encouraged by his evaluation of what I had done so far. I’ll go back to see him in a couple of weeks
and then soon after that I’ll be working with him while standing on my good leg
and then with both legs once I get my prosthesis.
I got a good report card from my family physician. He was pleased with my diet and the changes
that I have made in my lifestyle. He
encouraged me to continue to do what I had been doing since all my “numbers”
came back within the range he wanted, including my consistent blood glucose
levels. Most of the progress that I have
made with my glucose levels is because of the strict diet I am on. I also use a relatively small amount of
insulin. My doctor was so satisfied with
my progress that I don’t have to see him again until August.
With a consistent blood glucose level, I can now go to the eye doctor
and get a new prescription for my glasses.
I’ve had trouble reading for quite some time but it wasn’t worth
changing the prescription with my vision changing so often as a result of my
sugar levels. I am looking forward to
seeing more clearly again. Over the last
6-8 months, I had really slowed down on reading books because of how difficult
it was to read them. At least with the
computer or the Kindle I could increase the font size to make it more
comfortable to read. I usually preach
from notes that I have typed up.
Recently I’ve had to enlarge them up to 18 font size (or larger) to
easily read them.
I still have to lose about 50 lbs. to get down to my ideal weight. Weight loss will become easier with increased
activity and being able to walk again.
Recently my weight hasn’t changed too much but I have been replacing fat
with muscle due to the daily exercise I am doing.
My family doctor encouraged me by reminding me that in just a few short
weeks, my life would drastically change as I began walking again. The healing phase after amputation is almost
at an end for me and soon I will move on into the fitting and training
phase.
One of the hardest parts of the last couple of months has been not
being able to just get in my truck and go whenever I wanted. At first I only went out when I had to, like
to a doctor’s appointment. As I’ve been
regaining strength and stamina, I have done a few optional activities. But I lost that ability to independently go
anywhere since I need someone strong enough to load my wheelchair in a vehicle. Everything is planned and heavily considered.
That loss of freedom has been hard.
It reminds me of how devastating it normally is for an older adult to
give up driving. After being independent
for 50-60 years and then being housebound or reliant upon others for rides, it
can be extremely difficult. No wonder
they hang onto driving for so long even after their ability has drastically
reduced. This is especially true if they
are the only driver left in the household.
The change of driving status can have a profound effect on a person’s
perceived value or quality of life. For many people they have already stopped
working which stripped them of their identity.
Not driving and no longer able to live independently are harsh
blows. So much of who they once were is
gone. The rest of the world keeps on
living and pays little attention to them.
They are like the little towns bypassed by the new interstate. They use
to be busy with lots of traffic and activity; but now very few get off and go
through what is left of the town.
I remember how hard it was when we had to take the car keys from my
mother. Actually her insurance agent
called my brother and me asking us to do it after she had several accidents in
a short time frame where she caused property damage. Fortunately she had a good friend that gave
her rides wherever she needed to go. I
know a few people who will drive older adults into town for shopping. We need more people doing that. They are God’s ministering agents to people
in need!
Thought for the Day:
Hebrews 5:8-9 “Although
he [Jesus] was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made
perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”
Whoa! That is an interesting thought; Jesus learned
obedience through His suffering. Let’s
think a bit about what that means. The
bible affirms that Jesus never sinned and perfectly obeyed God in every aspect:
in what He did (and didn’t do), in his thoughts and words, and in His
motivation. And yet we know that Jesus
was not rewarded for doing what was right.
Instead He was subjected to struggles, temptations, and heartache. He suffered physically, emotionally, and
spiritually.
When we do the
right thing, we expect to be rewarded or recognized for our efforts. That is the way life SHOULD work in our
minds. Sometimes it does and sometimes
it doesn’t. We even have a saying that
covers those times when it doesn’t work correctly. “No good deed will go unpunished.”
When we do the
right thing and we are rewarded for it; that reward encourages more of the
right behavior. However what happens
when we do the right thing and nobody seems to notice? If that keeps happening it becomes harder and
harder to keep doing the right thing. “Why
should I keep struggling to be obedient if I am never rewarded for it?” Unless we are firmly resolved, after a period
of time, we give up and give in and we stop doing the right thing when it is
difficult and uncomfortable to do.
Despite the hard
knocks, the accusations, and even the prospect of a brutal torture and death,
Jesus never wavered in his obedience. He
learned what it means to be obedient when there wasn’t any immediate
gratification for doing it.
Now if Jesus had
something to learn, what about you and me?
It is relatively easy to be a friend when things are going well; but
when disaster strikes and friendship costs you something (time, energy,
emotion) then you discover how good a friend you truly are. When it is relatively easy to obey; obedience
is kind of cheap. But when it is
difficult and costly and few people are doing it; then obedience REALLY counts
for something.
Normally we do a
good deed and we are rewarded. What
really burns our toast is a delay between the deed and the reward. If you have a neighbor whom you have been
helping out regularly, but they never even say thank you; it gets harder and
harder to do the right thing. We are
reminded that God sees everything that we do and we will be rewarded for those
acts SOMEDAY. But someday doesn’t pay
the bills today. Even taking the long
term perspective, we struggle if we have to wait patiently for what we know
that we deserve today.
Even if the person
we assisted is slow to respond; doesn’t it seem like God should quickly demonstrate
that we did the right thing by blessing us in some fashion? Blessings don’t come as expected. The fulfillment of promises made is very slow
in coming. But we shouldn’t give up hope
and we shouldn’t stop doing what is right.
Galatians 6:9 “Let us
not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.”
“God often causes delays in our lives that we cannot understand.
Sometimes it seems our obedience is not getting rewarded. Jesus said He learned
obedience through the things He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). Imagine that - Jesus
having to learn obedience. What does that say for you and me? Sometimes God's
delays are simply because He wants more glory in the situation, more
recognition, more Christ-likeness in you and me through greater patience and
obedience. Faint not, for the promise may yet come.” [Os Hillman, Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message,
2-4-2014]
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