Tuesday (5/6/2014)

Update:

I am happy to say… rather I am relieved to say… better yet make that I am overjoyed to say…that my foot appears to be “fine.”  I’ve still have some pain and I am supposed to minimize walking on it until the pain subsides—but there was no apparent damage found and no additional restrictions imposed by the doctor yesterday.

The podiatrist examined my foot and sent me for x-rays; but found no evidence to suggest that anything else should be done at this time.  I am supposed to continue examining my foot on a daily basis and he gave me a more detailed list of things to look for.  He also told me that I hadn’t over-reacted and if I get the pain and any of the other symptoms that he shared with me I should make a bee line back into his office.

I was absolutely amazed that he didn’t impose any new restrictions on me.  So I am free to continued life…at a careful pace.  I was so very grateful when I heard the news.  After he left the examination room, before I did anything else, I tearfully gave thanks to God for the unexpectedly good report.  Phew!  Dodged that bullet!

The sad part is that we don’t really know what was causing the pain I experienced.  But I found if I stayed off of the foot (rode in a wheelchair) the pain subsided.  I have a couple of thoughts about what changed in my life or what I did differently just before this started that I’ll have to run by the doctor.  But there was no direct link between “I did this” and “my pain began.”  I can live with that tension.  And I am especially grateful that I won’t have to give anything up or discontinue doing anything that I’ve been doing.  I was really afraid that just as the weather turned nice that I would be stuck in the wheelchair, perhaps permanently.  For now, it is voluntary and at my discretion.  I can work with that.

So if you see me sporting my wheelchair for a time, you’ll know what is up.  It is just a part of the ups and downs of my life.  And I am so grateful that is all it is.

Thought for the Day:

I read Os Hillman’s devotional thought each morning.  The one he published yesterday hit a homerun for me.  I decided to share it in its entirety.  I hope that it brings you clarity and peace about whatever circumstances you face.

When God Seems Far Away
TGIF Today God Is First, Volume 1, by Os Hillman
05-05-2014

“’Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?’ - Psalm 10:1    One of the great mysteries of God is His ways. Some of His ways almost appear to bring us into the most difficult places, as if He were indifferent to our circumstances. It would appear that He is turning His head from our sorrows. These events in our lives have a particular objective to perform for us. That objective is to bring us to the end of ourselves that we might discover the treasure of darkness. ‘Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness’ (Job 30:26).”

“When we are taken into these dark periods, we begin to see light that we never knew existed. Our sensitivities become heightened and our ability to see through spiritual eyes is illuminated. Unless we are taken into these times, our souls never develop any depth of character. We do not gain wisdom, only knowledge. Knowledge is gained through understanding; wisdom is gained through the experience of darkness.”

“After we go through these periods, we discover that God was, in fact, with us throughout the entire time. It does not feel or appear that He is there when we are in the midst of the dark periods. However, He is there walking with us. He has told us countless times that He will never leave us. However, when we are in those dark periods, it does not feel like He is there because He does not rescue us from the circumstances. He does this for our benefit in order that we might become more like Jesus. Jesus learned obedience from the things He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). What does that say about how you and I will learn obedience? Embrace the dark times and gain the wisdom that God intends for you from these times.”     [Os Hillman, Today God Is First (TGIF) on-line devotional message, 5-5-2014]