The Big Tease

I found out today that my doctor is a big tease. He told me three weeks ago that my foot should take six weeks to heal and that maybe I could throw away my "boot" by then. Well, today was the end of six weeks, but he said at my appointment that it wouldn't hurt to keep the "boot" on two more weeks. I'm tired of this moon-walking hobble. It will be so nice to walk like normal again.

Like so many other things in our life, we don't know what we're missing until we do without it. Who would have guessed that one little foot not operating would affect so many areas of my life.

The church of Christ is referred to as the body of Christ. This emphasizes how much each of the members is needed to make the church function properly. When we fail to do our part, others have to take up the slack. No wonder it's taking so long for the gospel to be spread to the whole world. Jesus is waiting for us to get our act together and start behaving like one unified body.

For now, I'll just have to lace up and wear the dreaded "boot" and pray for continued healing. That's about all we can do in our churches too. Work with what we've got and pray for strength to make it to the end.

Look, Mom, No Walker!

The last two days I have been weaning myself off the walker and walking on my own, with the boot preferably. A lot of swelling has gone down, and it feels comfortable enough after almost five weeks of hobbling around with it. Next week, the doctor said I could probably do without the boot if the X-ray looks alright. Hooray!

It feels strange to walk on my own, but I have missed being able to carry things that didn't fit into the pockets of the walker. Like laundry, a plate of food, the dog dish, a trash can. My work-free days are at an end, it seems. Back to the old grind. I'm a very independent person though, and it's nice to be able to do everything myself again.

I think the Lord knew I needed this short amount of time to let me know that I am not only needed, but that I need someone too. The extra time laying around also allowed me to look at how much I need God. Truly, God has been there, overseeing the whole situation. He arranged for it to be my left foot so I can still drive. The pain wasn't unbearable, and the healing seems to be happening in a timely manner. Many friends I know have not been so fortunate with their falls. I thank God for watching over me and allowing only as much as I could bear.

A Breathtaking Experience

Having a fractured foot, in addition to a restrictive lung condition (like having an elephant on my chest most of the time), has been a breathtaking experience to say the least. But I have noticed that when I can bear a little weight on the walker boot, I am not so winded when I go places. When I am literally hopping without the boot, I'm huffing and puffing so bad you'd think my lungs were going to explode.

I was thinking about the difference in my breathing effort and wondered if that's how it is with Jesus. Even leaning on Him a little bit brings relief, but imagine how well we can walk through life if we allow Him to carry us entirely. No need to huff and puff and expend all that effort. Jesus has promised to carry our burdens, if we "take His yoke". That means plodding alongside our Lord, every step of the way. He pulls the cargo, we just have to stay in step. I can breathe easier and walk better just thinking about it.

Beautiful Feet

"These boots are NOT made for walking" is the new song title I'm singing today. The nurse told me the fracture on my foot was confirmed. I'm to use the "boot" and get X-rays again in four weeks. Sounds simple, but she had no idea what she was asking. I tried to put some weight on the foot with the boot and it HURTS. So I'm back to hopping with the walker for awhile, I guess. The foot is still swollen and bruised and it's been over a week. What's a body to do? What if my foot never heals correctly?

This reminds me of the consequences of sin. Just like falling on my foot, we often stumble into sin, injure ourselves, and require lots of healing time. God doesn't always provide an instant healing, and we can't count on being relieved of the consequences of our bad choices overnight. All we can do is be patient and wait for the Lord to work things out. It's hard for us humans to do that sometimes.

Think of the angels. They've been waiting for thousands of years for our earth to be made whole again. They must trust that God will make it all right in the end. I guess I'll have to do the same with my foot. God has a plan for me. And I'm sure it requires me to have two working feet. As ugly as one of them is right now, I remember the verse that says "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings..." Somewhere there is beauty in this ugly, swollen foot.

Give Me the Boot

How could something that big and ugly bring healing to a foot? I wondered as they put a walker boot on today after taking X-rays again. It's supposed to stabilize and protect the foot evidently and I do need that. I'm still not supposed to do actual walking on it though for awhile, and should try to keep any weight off it until they hear back from the radiologist.

I feel like I'm caught in a time tunnel and zapped back six months ago. For three months I put an identical boot on my husband every day. And doctors were telling my husband the very same things in order for his foot to heal faster than it did. We were all so disappointed when he didn't comply with the doctor's instructions and used his foot as he pleased, instead of staying off it. After a few hours, I was dying to take the boot off. Then it dawned on me how it felt for Dean to want to take the boot off as often as he did.

Now I know why Jesus had to come down to this earth to taste the life that we humans have. It's only when you actually have the same experience that you can really know what someone else has gone through. Isaiah 53:11 says, "...by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many...". I've often wondered what knowledge this was, but now I understand. It was knowledge of us. He tasted it all, for His friends.

The Old Boot

We saw the podiatrist today and thankfully my husband doesn't have to wear "the boot" any more, just his regular shoes. Six months of "velcro-ing" him up every day was getting old. Yes, it's been six months since he tripped on a curb and injured his foot. First time he has had a fracture from one of his falls. I certainly hope it's the last!

But the sad truth is it probably won't be his last fall. Like everything in life, "falls" are going to happen. Ever since Adam and Eve, we've been considered a fallen race. Satan is out there, ready to trip us up at every turn. We can choose not to go where Satan hangs out the most (icy sidewalks). And another protection is hanging onto Someone (or even something, like a walker or cane).

I'm looking forward to a New Earth where "falls" will be a thing of the past. We won't need to wear "the boot" and our "walker" will be walking by our side, instead of in front of us. His name is Jesus.