Update:
All day Saturday was spent at a church workday. We were preparing two areas of our building
for expansion by removing siding, removing the rock from the area under the
eaves, and removing a large wooden cross and some windows. About a dozen of us worked from 8 a.m. until
about 3 p.m. and were able to accomplish everything that needed to be done.
I didn’t climb scaffolding and couldn’t lift anything heavy, so I
helped pick up pieces of siding that were removed and stacked them in piles for
reuse later. I also was sent to the
lumber yard for supplies and went and picked up a large dump trailer with my
truck. Besides taking some photos and a
few odd errands, I spent a lot of time in my folding chair watching others build
and climb the scaffolding and do the labor.
That was a bit frustrating sitting on the sidelines watching others do
the work; but was able to appreciate what they did more because I couldn’t
contribute that much and could only watch.
I probably walked more on Saturday than I have in a long time (because I
had no problem with my prosthetic leg).
I was very tired by the time I arrived home.
My boys, Jon and Josh, showed up to mow my lawn and take the tarps off
the woodpile (should have been done sooner but wasn’t high on the priority list
of things to get done). I helped Josh
with the tarps and afterward we sat and talked for a while. They had gotten to the house before I got
home, and found my new bicycle and gave it a test ride. The said it felt strange compared to a
regular bike, sort of like sitting in a chair and then pedaling. Whatever!
I am just thankful that it works for me.
In the evening, Karen and I went out to “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
and then headed home for bed. Sunday
after worship we spent time with family and then I went on a bike ride (5
miles) and then my wife and I watched TV together for a while before bed.
I continue to be amazed that I have been able to be on my leg for so
much time each day. On Sunday I put my leg on by 7 a.m. and didn’t take it off
until about 9:30 p.m. Yes! I have started to feel like I can rely on my
prosthetic leg again. I usually keep my
wheelchair close; but I don’t end up in it as often or consistently as I have
been. On Sunday mornings before and
after the service, I’ve been using the wheelchair to save my leg a bit, so that
I ensure that I am able to walk during church and then in the afternoon.
For the last month, I have been visiting my prosthetist 2-3 times a
week for adjustments to my leg to give me merely an hour or two of use per
day. Now it has been a week since my
last visit and I currently don’t have a need to go in yet while at the same
time I’ve had 7-10 hours of use out of my leg each day. Ahh!
Life the way it should be (at least for a guy with a prosthetic leg)!
On Sunday, my daughter-in-law, Amelia, gave me a belated Father’s Day
gift. A pirate shaped pencil
sharpener. You put the pencil up the leg
hole, like he has a peg leg. I laughed
and laughed and laughed. What a great
gift for a guy like me!
Thought for the Day:
“To encourage people is to help them gain courage they might not
otherwise possess—courage to face the day, to do what’s right, to take risks,
to make a difference. And the heart of
encouragement is to communicate a person’s value. When we help people feel valuable, capable,
and motivated we sometimes see their lives change forever—and then see them go
on to change the world… God’s love FOR
us gives us the reason to encourage
others. God’s love IN us gives us the
ABILITY to encourage others. God’s love
THROUGH us gives us the WAY to encourage others.” [John Maxwell, Encouragement Changes
Everything: Bless and Be Blessed]
Encouragement
can take many forms. Some types of encouragement
may work better than others on certain people and at specific points in their
lives. We all need to be strengthened so
that we have the courage to take that next step. It is such a great help to have someone come
along side of us and pour positive affirmation into our hearts—“You can do
this! You can make it; just keep it up!”
As I
think back over the last seven months of my life, I have had a number of
medical personnel who have encouraged me when I was distressed or anxious—“It
will be okay; you can do this.” They strengthened me and challenged me—“You
just have to bear through this pain; it will get better soon.” They cautioned
me and counselled me—“Slow and steady improvement; don’t go too far, too fast.” They gave me hope and a forward vision—“You’ll
have good days and you’ll have bad days; but notice that overall your making
improvements.”
In our
lives, hopefully we have a number of encouragers: parents, spouse, siblings,
children, friends, clergy, supervisors, and even God Himself. And let’s not forget the one person who is
constantly with us who either lifts us up to try harder or discourages us to
give up quickly—ourselves. Yep! Our own thoughts and mindset can help us
along or hinder us and bring us to a stop.
When
the tasks you face are going to stretch you beyond your limits; make certain to
surround yourself with people and fill your mind with thoughts that will help
you take just one more step than you thought possible and dig just a bit deeper
and find within yourself the resources that you didn’t know you had.
And don’t
forget, pass it on! Once you’ve been
encouraged, turn around and become an encouragement to others.
Psalm
31:24 “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen
your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.” (NKJ).
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