New phase of the Journey...May 25, 2021

Heading for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester today to prepare for a knee replacement surgery on Tuesday May 25th. It's been a long time coming and is necessary. We wear out a little at a time. Our bodies are "fearfully and wonderfully made." The medical community has made it possible for us to replace or repair many parts that fail. I am thankful for the care and expertise that will give me the hope of new mobility without discomfort. Whatever the outcome I will be thankful for how God has given me this incredible body to enjoy for so many years. 

Psalm 139 is of great joy and blessing at all seasons of our lives:

For you created my inmost being;^(Q)
    you knit me together^(R) in my mother’s womb.^(S)
14 I praise you^(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,^(U)
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made^(V) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together^(W) in the depths of the earth.^(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained^(Y) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](Z) God!^(AA)
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,^(AB)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand^(AC)—
    when I awake,^(AD) I am still with you.

 

 

May 8th 2021 "OH MY ACHING KNEE"

For forty plus years I have nursed a bad knee. It has been a good patient for a long time. In January I slipped on the ice and snow fracturing my fibula and traumatizing the left knee. Lois said I fell because I was wearing "inappropriate foot wear"...aka my cowboy boots. Every good cowboy knows that boots are the best footwear but not so good on ice I guess. 

Everything seemed to be healing well until one day I took a step and ouch! The knee began swelling and the pain was in areas I had not experienced before when straining the knee. The orthopedic doctor said that we had done everything to maintain the knee but now it was time to bite the bullet and do the knee.

I am going to have Mako assisted robotic total knee arthroplasty at Mayo at the end of May. I have been told it cuts healing time down and recovery is quicker. We will see if that is true. Lois has had both knees done and will be my nurse. She will crack the whip so I do my PT correctly! I asked if I would be able to run and they asked if run now. I said no. They said "maybe not...we'll see."

Isn't it amazing that we have the privilege and opportunity to replace a failing body part? God has given special gifts of knowledge and wisdom to the folks who design and replace these body parts. I am grateful that I will be able to receive a new knee. When part of your body aches it seems the whole body aches too. 

That's how the Apostle Paul described how the "Body of Christ", the Church, should function. If one part aches; we all should ache. Sadly I find myself many times numb to the pain of others. Lord forgive my self centered concern. Help me to "see a need and meet it...feel a hurt and heal it."

My little daughters many years ago at my ordination into ministry sang this song... 

"Make me a servant humble and meek."

        Make me a servant
        Humble and meek
        Lord let me lift up
        Those who are weak
        And may the prayer
        Of my heart always be
        Make me a servant
        Make me a servant
        Make me a servant today

Lord let it be according to your will.