Lesson 7 & 8

I Already Knew Who My True Friends Were!

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When I fell and even until now, my true friends, those that stuck closer to me than a brother, have proven themselves over and over again that they INDEED are my truest and closest of friends. They have sacrificed time, money and energy; doing, fixing, calling and going places for me and my family. My family would not have made it through this crisis without their help, love and devotion! Actions speak louder than words and let me tell you, their actions spoke volumes to Robbie and me!! Their actions reminded me of a covenant friendship that is found in First Samuel 18. Jonathan and David had a covenant friendship. They were not acquaintances. They were not fair-weather friends. They were not crisis-only friends. They were true friends. No matter the circumstances, they stuck to each other. They were committed to each other. They defended each other. They helped each other and they encouraged each other. Wow...how refreshing to have such friends!

The lesson here is this: You have many acquaintances, but you have only a few true friends. We must be kind and friendly to all people, but we must "stick closer than a brother" to those we have made a friendship covenant with! Cherish your true friends. Never leave their side. Never be SO BUSY that you can't carve out time for your dearest friends! Be there for them when they need you and stay with them till the end of time!

The header to this post says lessons 7 & 8. Lesson 7 is what I typed above. Lesson 8 is along the same lines, but the reverse and is a little too personal for me to write about.

This Day Finally Came!

Day 109 (since my accident)

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If you have been keeping up with my blog, you know that while I was still in the hospital, I asked God to allow me to walk (for the first time) at Thanksgiving. You see, my request and desire was to walk for the first time to my Thanksgiving dinner table; just so that I could give God all the glory and honor for my continued healing. In my heart, I believed Thanksgiving Day was appropriate for such and honor.

Beginning the day that my surgeon told me it would be December before I began to walk again, I started a countdown of days to Thanksgiving. In my mind, walking meant being on my feet and moving from point A to point B. It did not matter if I was using a walker of if someone walked on my right and left, I was going to be on my feet, moving towards our Thanksgiving table. This was my request, my hope, my heart's desire....my dream. AND I knew God was going to deliver. Yet I never in my mind believed He would answer my request in the way that He did!

As the days counted down, I kept believing in my God! As I approached my Oct 30th doctor's appointment, I started believing that the boot cast that was still on my right leg would have to stay on another 6 weeks. I just did not believe my right foot was ready for me to put weight on it. That meant that I would be in that boot past Thanksgiving. My prayer changed and I told God that I would be completely satisfied with walking on one foot....just having the privilege to walk on one foot at Thanksgiving would answer my prayer. That in itself would have been something AWESOME to praise God for!

Well, in God-like fashion, my prayer was indeed answered, but I got much MORE than I asked for. My doc told me to dump the right boot on Oct 30th and on Nov 2nd, I was walking on both feet with a walker! Many days before Thanksgiving!

But guess what! The story does not end there. On Thanksgiving Day, I stood in my living room with my family. We prayed and gave thanks to our Great God and I then walked on both feet, on my own, no assistance, to our Thanksgiving table.

Can you believe this? Is this not amazing? Isn't God just beyond anything you can imagine? Here I was ready to settle for a one-leg hop to my table, yet He delivered a full, normal walk without any assistance!

Praise Be To Our Great God!

Lesson 6

You MUST have a good network of friends and family!

We are all too busy! Our calendars and schedules are so crammed with activities, that we barely can breathe! We get this false sense of security from checking off tasks on our To-Do lists. Yet, what I have learned is that our busy lifestyles have moved us away from building lasting relationships! We have become an island of one. Nothing else seems to matter but our calendars, to-do lists and our personal activities. Because of this, we have very little time to devote to our friends and family. I must shamefully admit to you that if it were not for birthdays, I would probably never see my dearest friends. And even then, we are late to celebrate the event! It is shameful. We all know it is. We freely admit this shame, but in the end, we do nothing about it! We go back to our crazy lives and await the next time we have to bow our heads and admit we are too busy...and the cycle continues!

I AM BLESSED to have close friends and family. They came to my (AND Robbie's) rescue in my (OUR) time of crisis. They swoop'd in and took care of things so that Robbie and I could focus on healing. It was amazing to watch and even now to look back upon!

So here is what I have learned! I will stop taking my friends and family for granted. I am going to pursue my friends and family more than I have in the past. I am going to pray that they too will look for ways and implement ways to improve their relationships. My personal schedule should not stop me from cultivating the close relationships that I so desperately need in my life.

Lessons 5

I wish to pick up where I left off on the lessons I have learned so far since my accident over 3 months ago.

Lesson 5

Throw out your pride and accept help from others!

More than often, most of us reject offers of assistance. Think about it! How often do your friends and family offer to help you and you tell them, "no thanks!" Lets be completely honest here...this is a pride problem. Sure, we may say, "oh, I don't wish to bother you with my problems", or "you have plenty to do without having to help me with my problem or situation" or "I can handle it, not to worry!" That is all crap and when it boil it down....it is pride that tells people NO!

Sure, there are times when I should say no. For example, if I am out mowing my yard and my best friend comes by and asks if I need help, I would tell him, no. My yard is my responsibility and not his. But, if I have fallen through my ceiling and crushed my heels and am unable to mow, then, this is an appropriate time to say YES!

A perfect example of this happened to me today. A friend send me an email telling me that her 2 kids were very sick and that she and her husband was having a very hard week at work on top of having to stay home with sick kids. My heart immediately said, "They need someone to cook dinner for them tonight....ME!" So I told her I was bringing her dinner. Immediately, in the next email from her came excuses for me not to cook dinner for them. I told her fooey on that, that dinner was coming anyway! She was pretty insistent, but I delivered anyway.

Bottom line: There comes a time when you must dump your pride and accept help from others. I sent out an email asking my friends if they knew of a place where I could purchase fire wood for the winter. A friend called me to tell me he would bring me some fire wood. I told him I was not looking for free fire wood....that did not matter to him. He cut the wood, delivered it and stacked if for me. I was overwhelmed by his help.

Not allowing others to help you robs them of the blessing of helping. Don't be a robber!

Craziness & Fun!

Day 94

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WOW! Since being released to bear weight on my right foot, I have been doing all kinds of fun stuff! Primarily, driving! At my last doctor's appointment, I was concerned how I was going to get to my physical therapy appointments. As you read in my previous post, I have figured out how to get my wheelchair in my car and go places on my own. So my prayer!

I have completed my first week of physical therapy (PT). I spent this week in a wave pool. Walking in a pool of water cuts my weight in half and allows me to walk on my right foot without any assistance of people or devices. It was so cool to do this. It was painful, but cool nonetheless.

I spend time walking, stretching and at the end walking against water currents. Now that is very interesting. I can adjust how powerful the currents are.

Just after one week of PT, I am walking more with my walker and spending less time in the wheel chair. So cool!

The Tiger Has Been Let Out Of His Cage!

Day 86

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Since my last doctor's appointment on Oct. 30th, I have been engaging in several firsts (at least, firsts since my accident).

• On Friday, Oct 31, I drove my car 3 times. It was awesome to be driving again!! Robbie put my wheel chair in the back and we both took off to our destinations.
• On Sunday, Nov 2, a friend let me borrow his walker. After church, I WALKED FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! My goal was Nov 25, yet God allowed me to do it 23 days early. I did not go far, but it was exciting and very emotional!
• On Tuesday, Nov 4, I got into my car and drove to Sonic by myself to get a Diet Coke. I wheeled out to the garage, stood up, got into my car and drove off. Came home, got back into my chair and wheeled back into the house. So refreshing to do thing on my own!!
• TODAY--I decided I could pick my wheel chair up and put it into my SUV on my own. So, I went to Office Depot to get some storage boxes. Then I wheeled through Best Buy to get a cable for my computer and then I stopped to get a Diet Coke for my wife. I then went to her office to deliver it and surprise here. It was amazing to be out on my own. Lifting the chair in and out of my car was no big deal.

I start physical therapy tomorrow. It should help me to walk better and longer!

God is SO amazing!

Today's X-rays

Finally, I have a copy of my x-rays to show you. I had to scan them and the picture is not too good; but you can see all of the metal plates and screws that are in both heels. Pretty scary!!

xrays of heels

Lesson #4

Back On My Feet Countdown: 26 days

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Before I share lesson learned number 4, please allow me to tell you where I got the phrasing for this next lesson.

I was on the Internet reading an article about Tony Snow (previous White House Press Secretary for President Bush). In this interview, he spoke of his terminal cancer and how he was dealing with it. Of course, he spoke of God and how He was ultimately in control of his life and the direction it would go. The interviewer asked if he ever asked "why". And here is a direct quote of what he (Tony) said and my Lesson #4;

"Asking 'Why?' is designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer!"

Wow, what a powerful statement! And it speaks the truth, does it not? I set out day 1 not to ask God WHY! And I am here to tell you that I have not asked. What real difference does it make if I ask? The ultimate answer is already given in the Bible. God is constantly working to make us more like His son Jesus. We already know that this perfecting comes with great difficulty. Troubles and trials are constantly at our doorsteps. They are a part of life! Why? When we are weak, He is strong. When we struggle, our character is improved and we are able to handle more of what God has in store for us! Perseverance produces character and character produces hope and this hope is one that will not disappoint us. So what is the big deal...what does hope give me? Well, let me tell you what hopes gives me....it is a longing in my heart of things that I KNOW WILL come! I am not speaking of wishing...wishing is longing for something that may or may not come to fruition. Yet, when I persevere through trials, my character is improved or built upon. Then my improved character gives me a hope in God that only He can give. And this hope NEVER disappoints me. Why? Because a hope in God ALWAYS delivers results that are truly amazing and beyond belief! Everytime I visit my doctor, I leave with more than I came in expecting!

I know what I have said is completely true, because my friends, I am living it right now and I mean RIGHT NOW and for the last 80 days!

I love you God.

Again, God Delivers More Than I Expected!

Day 80

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Believe it or not, but 6 weeks has past since my last doc appointment and today I made my way back to his office once more to get the latest news; and what AWESOME NEWS it was!!! I went with some expectations and left completely amazed at how much more I got! Here are the specifics:

• I can begin to walk on my left leg.
• I can get rid of the boot that was on my right leg. No more boots!!!
• I can begin to put pressure on my right leg.
• I can begin physical therapy to help me walk again.
• Over the next few weeks, I can use a walker and or crutches to walk on both feet.
• I can drive again (with the help of others until I can walk on my own).
• I can wear shoes on both feet again.
• My next doc appt is in 6 weeks and my doc wants me to come on my own and walk into his office. How cool is this?

Please join with me and give all praise, honor and glory to the living God, who is the ultimate doctor!!!

Lesson #3

Day 78

Back On My Feet Countdown: 28 days

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There is a verse in the Bible that I have quoted in this blog many times, yet I have learned that it is completely true! James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

It is completely amazing! 78 days out from my accident and I still have this pure joy! I know that I would have never pulled out of this without this pure joy. And where did it come from? Did the pain pills bring it? Was is all the nice health care workers at the hospital? Could it be my dearest friends and family? Hey, I will be the first to tell you that pain pills are AWESOME! And I did have the royal treatment at the hospital. And, I could not do this without my truly Godly friends and family. BUT....none of this could deliver the joy that races through my heart and mind!

I am so thankful that God chose to give me this joy. This joy has carried me through many bouts of sadness, pain, and loneliness. When these negative emotions come, joy comes to my rescue!

I believe in my heart that my healing comes from God and His joy that is deep within me is an agent of healing!

Next Doc Appt This Week!!

This Thursday, I will visit my surgeon again. It has been 6 weeks since my last visit. I am full of hope and excitement in anticipation of the news I will get at this visit. Will I get to walk on my left leg? Will I get to lose the boot on my right foot? Who knows! But I know that whatever the news, it will be bigger and better than I ever expected!