Mama C's Boasting Blog - Day 20

Psalm 18:29
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

So many times we forget to thank God for the things that just seem to be such a normal part of life that we often give them no thought.  Hence the reason for today's boast:

I remember being 13 years old and having to learn to walk all over again.  I had severe Scoliosis which required major surgery on my spine to correct it.  I was fused in the cervical region as well as the lumbar region and had a metal rod attached to my spine to hold the curvature correction in place.  The surgery was extremely painful and required me to lie in a body cast for three months before being allowed to walk again.

A lot happened during those three months.  My sister Gerri lost her second baby, and I could not get up to go to the funeral.  My mom and dad fought a lot, and their fighting ended up involving a butcher knife and blood on one particular day.  I felt so helpless because I could not get up to help in that situation.  As if that wasn't enough, I also was raped by a neighborhood acquaintance while I laid there in that body cast completely unable to get up and run or fight back.

When it finally came time for me to learn to walk again at the end of those three months, I was more than eager to get my legs back.  The doctors told my parents it would take at least a month for me to be able to walk well enough to leave the hospital.  Instead, I was walking out those doors in two weeks!  Yes, I still had to wear the body cast (for an entire year as a matter-of-fact), but I was walking!  Whoo, hoo!

If you have never lost your ability to walk, it may be difficult for you to relate to the joy it can bring.  However, if you need some help, just go spend some time with those who cannot walk.  I think that will give you the gratefulness you need.  Trust me, walking is a magnificent thing!  There are so many things like walking that we enjoy on such a regular basis that it is easy to forget to be thankful for them.  Seeing, hearing, breathing...even hot running water!  (If you've ever been to the mission field, you probably learned to be grateful for that last one! :-)  )

So...back to walking.  As I sit here with a brace on my leg for some complications that have arisen lately, I am reminded once again of how awesome a blessing walking is.  Therefore, just as when I was thirteen, I will fight this, and I will win!  I can say that because of the promises of God.  If I don't give up, He always shows up!  God is awesome!