Sometimes it takes a while to understand and embrace our unexpected life lessons. We keep thinking SURELY we’ve got it, surely we don’t need another time around.
Many of our favorite characters share this experience. We empathize with them. It’s not that they’re unintelligent–they’re simply human.
With no warning, things happen. We get surprised, as I did a little over a month ago walking to my vehicle after picking up the mail. Whamo! My toe hit a narrow piece of stump left in the ground, my keys, the mail, and my billfold flew through the air, as did I. And I discovered how unforgiving this rocky soil can be.
An ER visit later (thanks to friends who transported me), I began babying my left arm. Poor humerus bone–so sorry! Interesting how our total focus coalesces on one ailing body part at such times.
Since then I’ve flown round-trip to Iowa for a funeral and accomplished some one-handed writing and editing–while practicing caution at every turn.
But honestly, before this fall, I was already trying to be careful!
Can anybody identify?
Life happens, they say. And of course this could have been far worse. With more than one friend fighting for their life right now, by comparison this is minor. I’m also very grateful I can use my right hand, that no surgery was required, and for Lance’s unfailing help.
Still, injuries like this really hurt! Bless my retired Physician Assistant friend who wrote, “Bone pain is the worst.” Somehow, that makes me feel better.
But embracing my lessons? Still working on that. One thing: I’m pretty sure this fresh experience with a big owie will enter into a novel one of these days. (:
Seems I must’ve needed to learn a thing or two . . . again.
I agree, Gail, the challenges and injuries happening to us personally and locally or far away give us all great big owies. It takes effort to focus on what we have to be grateful.
Happening far away…Yes…so many face such gargantuan changes in their lives, and this definitely gives perspective to our own challenges. The term “all is well” has many shades of meaning!
I’m sorry to hear this happened to you, Gail, but glad you weren’t hurt more seriously. Yes, there are lessons to be learned almost everywhere we turn, even though it might take us a while to understand that message. We can trust that God will reveal that to us in time.
Blessings!
Yes–that’s the part that encourages me, and that there’s a far bigger plan in place!
One-handed writing and editing!!! My sympathies. You’re right–owies teach us many things, not least of which is an increased understanding when others suffer their own owies. By definition, writers are daydreamers. We must be to understand and “put on paper” what God gives us to share with others. My daydreaming too often leads my eyes skyward and my thoughts drift along with fluffy clouds on a sunny day. I’ve had many oopsi doopsies as a result. Thanks for sharing your experience–it does help to know any one person is not the only person who trips up in one way or another!
That’s for sure! The other day I watched someone trip on a cord and go down and my heart went right with her!
Oh Gail, bless you , I have often wondered after a fall (which at age 78 are more frequent) if God is trying to knock some sense into me! I know we try to be careful, but are so busy rushing hither and yon that we don’t stop to notice the little things which can have a large impact. I have been reminded so often that something good may result from a trauma. Sometimes it is simply hope. As I have aged and survived multiple personal and physical traumas I am able to see the positive more clearly. I won’t bore you with examples! Blessings.
That would not be boring. You have suffered the loss of someone very dear to you recently, and in your own words, it’s HARD to go through this. Makes my little fracture appear quite insignificant, but then, I know we are not to compare these things! Thanks for sharing–it’s good to remember the good that comes through challenges on our path. (literally!)
Will never laugh at calamity my sweet friend, but had to chuckle at your use of “Whamo!” above. I also couldn’t help but think of those poor Israelites who spent 40 years wandering in the Sinai desert because they too never seemed to learn their lesson. In fact, all but two never saw God’s promise realized in their lives because they too were “stiff-necked.” Oh, how I’ve been there my friend. Praying your continued speedy recovery, and God’s blessings.
Yes, those Israelites!! Stubborn bunch… like us. Thanks for your prayers, and I’m praying for your health issues, too.
So sorry. This just sounds like it would be so discouraging.
Certainly requires patience! But yesterday I heard of an Iowan who fell the day before her father’s memorial service and had to have a plate + 2 pins put in her shoulder. Now THAT would really take some recovery time. Aging is just TOUGH! Hope it’s being kind to you in the Windy City. (;