OUCH!

The story of Samson and Delilah is a familiar Old Testament story to most. Samson gets his strength from his hair and his wife Delilah decided she had enough of the big boy on campus and cut his hair off. Strength GONE! Today I felt a bit like Samson. I know that my problems are so slim to most, but even so, my blog, my time to be selfish. I wrenched my back so bad, I could hardly move around today. Every little move was extremely painful. My strength normally there was gone. It was awful. I cannot imagine going through the rest of my life feeling such pain, and yet there are those among us that deal with pain such as this on a daily basis. Now, I have complained all day. Every time I moved I complained. I had my children playing fetch for me and my sweet sister nursing my back every four hours with Icy/Hot patches. What would I do if I knew that pain would never go away? Would I put on a good face and just struggle though, or would I complain continuously? I hate to say it, but I am sure I would be a complainer. How sad it is. We are given these bodies to serve Christ. We can walk, and talk and move on our own and yet one little thing, and poof, we are like Samson.

I went to a conference in Atlanta one year to hear Joni Erickson Tada. This woman is such a woman of faith. She knows no limits. However, she is paralyzed from the waist down and had to relearn to do everything. She learned to paint holding the brush with her teeth. Just listening to her struggles makes you want to cry, however, she is so gracious and THANKFUL for everything! She looks at her sorrow and counts it all joy because it brought her closer to the Father. I did not do that today. I did not count it joy. And I do not need someone to help me get in and out of a chair everyday.

Father, thank you for the sorrows in my life. Thank you for showing me that even through pain and sorrow we can find joy in it! Help me to be more appreciate of my good health and not take it for granted. Help me to help others who are in pain and need encouragement.