Update:
Monday morning I slept in until 6:30 a.m.; that felt nice! After breakfast I was able to get my hour of
exercises completed and took a shower before leaving for an appointment with my
eye doctor.
I did a vision field test and a number of other eye exams. They were specifically looking for signs of
glaucoma—which they did not find.
Yeah! I have another appointment
with him in six months—hopefully the swelling in my eyes will have gone done
enough that I can finally get a new prescription for my glasses. I’ll still be going to the retina specialist
twice a month for the injections (and laser treatments when needed). I also found out that I don’t have cataracts;
apparently the trouble I have in bright sunlight is due to the swelling in the
retina. Sounds like when that is finally
under control, my vision should vastly improve.
I cannot wait. It has taken
longer than I anticipated; but I’ve noticed that nothing changes because I
desperately want it to. It will take as
long as it takes and that calls for continued patience.
While I was waiting at the counter for the next available person to schedule
my next appointment, an older lady with glasses and a cane rush up and jumped
in front of me. I am assuming that with
all the weight I’ve lost that she didn’t see me because I am so much more
slender…not buying it, huh? Me neither;
but I just stood there quietly waiting a little bit longer. They still had plenty of appointment slots
left for the day I wanted, so I didn’t really lose anything by being patient.
Because of my vision, I’ve quit reading traditional books. Almost everything I read is on a computer or
a Kindle so I can enlarge the print. I
have to use a magnifying glass or get someone else to read fine print for me. Actually my vision has improved drastically
since last winter. Now occasionally I
can read the newspaper without the desk lamp and a magnifying glass. It could be worse, so I am not
complaining. I am grateful for the
vision that I do have. I am still able
to drive and do most of the things that I like to do.
After a quick lunch, Karen and I went to Sam’s Club. It was nice to go shopping; I haven’t been
for over a month. If I am wheelchair
bound, it is just easier to leave me at home so Karen can quickly go and grab
the stuff that we need. And with me
losing weight, we just don’t go through many groceries anymore, so Karen can
get wait we need quickly if she is in town for something else. It takes a lot more time and a substantial
increase in energy to load and unload the wheelchair, etc. The only thing that I don’t like about
shopping now is that all the motorized carts go half as fast as I think they
should go. Slow is one thing but I think
snails could pass me! At home, Karen
carries in the groceries while I work at putting them away.
Later, I went on an eight mile bicycle ride which took almost a full
hour. About six days a week, I’ve been
riding at least five miles per day. My
rear end gets a little tender while I ride.
I don’t know if that means I need a different seat or I just need to
toughen my rear up? Time will tell, I
suppose. After dinner I folded and iron
clothes, took a second shower for the day and then did some reading before bed.
Thought for the Day:
Warren Wiersbe writes, “My pastoral ministry has put me in touch with
people whose situation seemed hopeless from a human perspective, and yet they
overcame their obstacles and handicaps and conquered in the end. Hope was not, for them, a distant prospect;
it was an ever present power… How does
this future hope enable us to bear today’s burdens and pain? It assures us that we’re not suffering in
vain… Our present suffering is an
investment in future glory.” [Warren
Wiersbe, Looking Up When Life Gets You Down].
Romans 15:13 “May the
God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so
that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.
Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
One of the ways for us to gain hope is to hear the stories of others
who have stood against seemingly insurmountable odds and have won. Isn’t that what happens when we read the Old
Testament accounts of God coming to the aid of the nation of Israel? “God hasn’t changed in all these years, so if
He could rescue them and enable them to be victorious, then He can do the same
for me, right?”
Maybe you know someone personally who has gone through tough times and
is doing a good job of hanging on and moving forward with life. Their testimony can be an inspiration for
us. “If they can face their trials with
such a positive attitude and determination, well then, I suppose that I can do
the same with the things I face.”
Last night I found a website that I’ve been exploring. Abled Amputees of America has tips, words of
encouragement, stories and photos of amputees who are going about their lives
and not letting a loss of limb keep them down.
For me, it is a source of encouragement and helps to build my hope as I
look to my future. Here’s their address
if you’d like to check them out: http://www.abledamputees.org/
I’m also reading my bible and praying daily, as well as reading a
number of other books to feed my heart, mind and soul. I seek to do as much for myself as I can without
taking too many risks or wearing myself down.
I keep pushing myself a little each day.
I’m riding my motorcycle and driving my truck, so I have freedom and a
sense of adventure. Although my old
standard bicycle didn’t work with my prosthetic leg, I found a type of bicycle
that works and I have been riding almost every single day since I purchased it. I am not going to win any races at the speed
I go; but I am getting stronger each day and I am getting great exercise.
Yeah, my life has changed drastically over the last seven months; but
not all of those changes have been bad.
Some of them have been a positive force in my life. Life has become an adventure for me. Something new to try; something new to conqueror.
I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to continue living. I know that no matter what I achieve or what
limits that I bump up against that God is with me every step of the way. So I am putting my best foot forward and
continuing the journey with Him by my side.
I hope that you will step up and step out as well. I am certain that your life isn’t perfect and
you have your struggles as well. Just
don’t let them define you. Don’t give up
without a struggle. Stretch yourself and
test your limits. Seek to build your own
personal relationship with God and find a hope that you can place your
confidence in. Then no matter how your
life turns out, at the end, you’ll be able to look back and say that it was
good.
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