Patience and Gratitude
Romans 15:5 states: “Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind…”
My recent foot surgery taught me a great deal about patience, relying on the help of others, and finding gratitude in these moments.
I am an independent person, hate asking for help, and like to establish my own timelines. Boy, did I learn how important it is to have friends and loved ones who rally to support you! My sister put her life on hold for over a week to wait on me. Wonderful meals were delivered by friends and family. I had to be non-weight bearing for four weeks. THAT was a challenge. There are so many tiny aspects to life that require the use of both feet. Thankfully my home is all on one level. I used a knee scooter to navigate and these factors made a huge difference. But when it came to leaving my home, it was a production to navigate one step down into the garage or front porch-and then reverse it when I returned home. I had to rely on family or friends to take me places until I could drive. Once I had clearance to use my foot in a boot, it was much easier and I felt full of gratitude for the simplicity of that “step” (no pun intended) toward normalcy. Another four weeks and I could wear shoes again and walk fairly well. I am now in physical therapy and feeling stronger every day.
But this isn’t just a health report. It’s taking stock of my blessings, too. Sure, this whole process was inconvenient and sometimes uncomfortable – but the love and support I would never have known otherwise was overwhelming. How lucky I am to have a community of caring people in my life! The physical help, the emotional cheering for recovery, and the prayers all contributed to this beautiful awareness. We can live our lives day to day without much thought to what fills our souls with joy, gratitude – until we are faced with a challenge. So, when we find ourselves facing a speed bump on this road of life, let’s pause and allow ourselves to feel the love of God and his angels on Earth, and take stock in what really matters. In this season of Lent and the preparation for Easter, I am thankful for all that fills my life with love and peace.
Marcia Wright
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