“Be strong and Courageous for the Lord will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9
I was three days post surgery and hadn’t been able to get out of bed yet. The first day, I stood with the help of two physical therapists and almost passed out so they allowed me to lay back down. The second day they tried again and I was still too lightheaded to stand for more than a moment so once again, they allowed me to get back in bed. Finally they determined that I had lost too much blood with the injury and I needed a transfusion. Thankfully that helped because they needed the bed in the surgical ward and they planned to send me home or to a rehab facility the next day day.
I didn’t feel very strong or courageous at that point at all. Home wasn’t a safe option, but rehab didn’t seem to be an option either - at least not until the next afternoon when a bed became available at a skilled nursing facility with a good rehab department in a community near our home. That evening, the med van driver arrived to transport me to the nursing home where I would regain my strength and stability. But in God’s providence, he arrived with a special message for me.
We exchanged pleasantries and he asked me about my injury. When he learned the story of my broken leg, he began to share his testimony of how he had suffered two broken hips as a young adult. He wasn’t supposed to walk again, but through prayer and stubborn willpower, he did walk again. He fought hard against his circumstances, and won, amazing his doctors and the medical support staff in rehab. His story encouraged me to listen to my therapists, to work hard and to push myself to the limits of my ability so I could get well.
The Lord knew I needed that pep talk. I was fearful and weak, though thankfully I didn’t have much pain. I arrived at the nursing home, my faith bolstered and determined to fight hard to be able to go home as soon as possible. That first night I was weak and almost helpless, yet each day as I woke up, my strength returned and with God’s help and a determined spirit the improvements became evident each day. At the end of three weeks, I still was not allowed to put weight on my recovering leg. But I had made amazing progress and was ready to go home.
Being home has its own unique challenges, but through prayer and the strength of the Lord, those challenges are being met, one at a time and conquered. I’m not standing unsupported on my feet yet, but I refuse to just lay abed, waiting for the leg to heal or to have others wait on me when I can do many things myself. I am doing most of the normal things I used to do around the house, like cooking, dishes and laundry, even if those things take more ingenuity, time and energy than they used to. The message God sent me through my med van driver friend was clear – be strong and very courageous - and fight toward recovery each day in His strength.
When you face a seemingly insurmountable task, what message of encouragement has the Lord sent you? I’d love to hear your stories!
I was three days post surgery and hadn’t been able to get out of bed yet. The first day, I stood with the help of two physical therapists and almost passed out so they allowed me to lay back down. The second day they tried again and I was still too lightheaded to stand for more than a moment so once again, they allowed me to get back in bed. Finally they determined that I had lost too much blood with the injury and I needed a transfusion. Thankfully that helped because they needed the bed in the surgical ward and they planned to send me home or to a rehab facility the next day day.
I didn’t feel very strong or courageous at that point at all. Home wasn’t a safe option, but rehab didn’t seem to be an option either - at least not until the next afternoon when a bed became available at a skilled nursing facility with a good rehab department in a community near our home. That evening, the med van driver arrived to transport me to the nursing home where I would regain my strength and stability. But in God’s providence, he arrived with a special message for me.
We exchanged pleasantries and he asked me about my injury. When he learned the story of my broken leg, he began to share his testimony of how he had suffered two broken hips as a young adult. He wasn’t supposed to walk again, but through prayer and stubborn willpower, he did walk again. He fought hard against his circumstances, and won, amazing his doctors and the medical support staff in rehab. His story encouraged me to listen to my therapists, to work hard and to push myself to the limits of my ability so I could get well.
The Lord knew I needed that pep talk. I was fearful and weak, though thankfully I didn’t have much pain. I arrived at the nursing home, my faith bolstered and determined to fight hard to be able to go home as soon as possible. That first night I was weak and almost helpless, yet each day as I woke up, my strength returned and with God’s help and a determined spirit the improvements became evident each day. At the end of three weeks, I still was not allowed to put weight on my recovering leg. But I had made amazing progress and was ready to go home.
Being home has its own unique challenges, but through prayer and the strength of the Lord, those challenges are being met, one at a time and conquered. I’m not standing unsupported on my feet yet, but I refuse to just lay abed, waiting for the leg to heal or to have others wait on me when I can do many things myself. I am doing most of the normal things I used to do around the house, like cooking, dishes and laundry, even if those things take more ingenuity, time and energy than they used to. The message God sent me through my med van driver friend was clear – be strong and very courageous - and fight toward recovery each day in His strength.
When you face a seemingly insurmountable task, what message of encouragement has the Lord sent you? I’d love to hear your stories!
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