Lately, it’s been a challenge to stay positive. It’s been almost 4 months now and although I’m very thankful for the progress made, there is still very far to go. Right now, it’s long, tedious, and frustrating. Sometimes, doing the most common thing becomes an aggravating, humbling, and embarrassing activity.
We wanted to have some quality time with the kids and so we took them to a Bass Pro Shop store. My kids love it there. They had a great time, but before we left, my son wanted to, “Shoot the ammo,” meaning he wanted to go to the mechanized shooting range. This, in the past, was always a very enjoyable activity for us. I have always been a pretty good shot. But now, obviously, with a left-hand that simply won’t do as it’s told, I was terrible. What made it worse was that there was a young mom with a toddler right next to us, closely watching the whole thing, rather watching me miss shot after shot.
And then there’s the pain. Lately, the pain in my shoulders and back has increased to the point that it robs me of sleep. One therapist explained that after a stroke, when the body starts to recover, the brain will try to send a flood of messages to a part of the body. Sometimes, it causes all the muscles in that area to respond at the same time, causing muscle spasms and cramps. No doubt, my right side suffers also, trying to overcompensate for my left side, which has been out of commission. Explanations aside, all I know is that the throbbing pain annoys me to no end.
Yet, there has been an oasis of relief. A most thoughtful friend of mine lives in a neighborhood with a clubhouse that has a hot tub. As his guest, I am able to get into that hot tub and experience almost immediate relief. I find it better then Flexeril, Diazepam, and Extra Strength Tylenol combined. He is a blessing indeed.
All this reminds me of a couple of spiritual principles. One is that although life may be difficult, the trials can actually benefit us. The book of James reminds us to actually consider it joy when we face trials in life knowing that this testing of our faith will produce spiritual richness (James 1:2-4). It recalls the story of the oyster and pearl.
Simply put, without a source of irritation, the oyster would never produce the priceless pearl. Our natural inclination is to despise irritations and seek to eliminate them as quickly as possible. We don’t realize that it may very well be those irritations that will produce true wealth and beauty in our lives. What the oyster finds so painful and irritating, the pearl merchant finds blissful and of utmost worth. Perhaps, I should thank God for the irritations that come my way, be they physical pain or even irritating people!
Secondly, many are those who feel as though they are going through their own private desert experience. Might you and I offer an oasis of comfort and relief to them on their journey? Perhaps God wants to use us to bring someone some encouragement or relief at a very special point in their life. Let me share with you a verse that has brought us hope when things get the most difficult:
“…it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19
Thanks for reading and praying.
Tim, Lillian, Micah, and JoJo