FLYING ACCIDENT
I had a flying accident, or so says my husband. As with most flying accidents, the take off was satisfactory. The landing was another story. It all started so innocently. My ambitious teenager, my third son, my tidy organizer, completely cleared the clutter from the carpet in his college brothers’ bedroom. Soon, this became the perfect spot for a project I was completing. I laid my picture frames, including the glass, all over the floor. Since my eldest son was coming home from college for fall break, I climbed a few rungs up his loft bed to pull off the sheets. As I tugged hard, the sheets whipped quickly off his bed as I flew backwards. Not wanting to step on the glass in my bare feet, I stepped awkwardly aside tripping over a lamp, landing half way on my second oldest son’s bed. I careened onto the floor, slamming my body downward onto my hand. Unfortumately, the landing resulted in a dislocated elbow; broken, angulated, and compacted radial head; and torn muscle and ligaments. Surgery was required for repairs. As I tossed & turned last night, frustrated that I cannot functionally use my dominant right arm and hand, and may not have full use of it for six months, I contemplated my thankfulness list:
*I have not cooked or driven for almost a month. Thanks to many friends and family who have helped!!
*Thankfully, I have been able to thoroughly enjoy the beauty of autumn; namely the bold golds, bright reds, brilliant oranges, and even the bronzed browns. The van was the one place my husband could buckle me in and make me sit still & heal after surgery. He would perfectly position the pillows to allow some pain relief for my pitiful arm!
*I’m thankful for the $10 off coupon from Victoria Secret. I’m thankful that I was able to find a bra at V.S. that I can put on all by myself. No clasps!
*Even though my usual 15,000-20,000 steps per day has been reduced to more like 4,000-8,000 steps thankfully I have not gained any weight. Pain is a fearsome appetite-suppressant.
*I have had weekends filled with the warmth of family and laughter as my college sons, my brother, and my sister visited me in my home.
*I have not paid bills for almost a month. Thankfully most are on autopay. The bookkeeping can wait.
*My often too busy husband has taken the time to put on his chef hat. I’m thankful for appetizing aromas that he creates in the kitchen and the stirring of romantic memories of dating days when he more frequently cooked for me.
*Since I have been in 7th grade, I have been a habitual exerciser which has thankfully translated into being able to tenaciously attack my therapy exercises.
*As one get well card reminded, I’m thankful 3 of 4 appendages still work.
The day before the accident, I celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI. I was privileged to sing with about 200 others in an alumni choir during an extraordinary worship service. After my “bad landing”, as I was speeding towards the hospital in the ambulance and as I laid in the E.R., the words of the songs I sang just the day before sprung forth in my mind & from my lips. “Children of the Heavenly Father, safely in His bosom gathers...God His own doth tend & nourish... in His mighty arms He bears them. Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord His children sever; unto them His grace He showeth, and their sorrows all He knoweth. Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh, His the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure & holy.” And “Peace be to you and grace from Him who freed us from our sins, who loved us all and shed His blood that we might saved be. Sing holy to the Lord Almighty God…” The comfort God brought to me through those musical words was indeed a fulfillment of His promise that “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Heb. 13:5 even when the “landing” is lousy.
