Blessed to be Broken

I’d been saying it for weeks. Your life can change in an instant. Little did I know how quickly those words were going to figuratively bite me on my proverbial butt! 

Nothing, and I mean nothing will make you appreciate your life more than when something unexpected and unwanted happens.

Almost 2 weeks ago, I was going about my life and suddenly found myself hugging the ground. This wasn’t my choice, but my foot caught the edge of the sidewalk, and I lost balance. The next thing I knew, I was taking inventory of my person and the ground was much closer to my whole body than I wanted it to be.

I won’t go into all the details, but suffice it to say I wound up at the ER. I was really hoping I had only sprained my pinky finger. Turns out, I dislocated and fractured my pinky in 2 places and fractured the radial head bone in my arm. This is not the type of bonus you want. 

But wait, it gets better. It’s my dominant arm.

Go big or go home right?

Sadly, or fortunately this isn’t my first rodeo breaking my dominant arm. But the last time I did this, my son, and my then husband were there to take care of me.

Back then, I didn’t have a relationship with the Lord. I was prideful, I was angry, and being dependent on people for the simplest of tasks made me feel shameful and less than.

Back to present day. I have a relationship with the Lord. I’m prideful. I’m angry. Yet, it’s in different ways.

To be honest, I never thought this type of injury would be permitted while I lived on my own. Yet, here I am. 

But, God! 

Maybe you’ve heard the song, “People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world.” Those lyrics sung by Barbra Streisand, are a reminder, that we weren’t meant to do this life alone.

Yet, the world tells us to be independent, strong, and to put ourselves above others. The mantra “I got this” begs us to stand self-sufficient. 

Let me tell you, without my people helping and praying me through that first week, and even now, I’d have been neck deep in pity. 

My temporary splint went from the tips of my fingers to mid-upper arm. Being a side sleeper, this was more than inconvenient. 

But this isn’t about what I couldn’t do. This time around, it was about being thankful for what I could do, and more thankful for having people in my life that we’re ready, able and willing to help.

They were literally the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Every day, I realized I had two choices. I could reside on the enemy’s playground and sit in “woe is me” land. Or, I could be thankful God had gone before me, surrounded me with an army of family and friends who attended to needs too numerous count. 

Which of those choices sound better to you? 

This time around, I humbly accepted my limitations and looked forward to spending time with friends and family as they helped me navigate through this trial.

The good news, after seeing the orthopedic doctor, the only contraption I needed, was an orthotic for my hand. 

I wish you could’ve seen my face when he told me I wouldn’t need a cast of any kind. Pretty sure, my heart leapt for joy like one of those cartoon characters whose heart beat out of their chest. Add an ah-uhga sound for emphasis.

All I can say is, what a difference a week makes and what a difference knowing Jesus has made in my life.

My fractures are healing, no cast required, and I’m thankful it wasn’t worse.

And while I don’t feel like one of the luckiest people in the world for needing people, I do feel blessed beyond measure that in my need, I have a bevy of amazing friends and family who love and care for me. 

So, in a world that tells you, you don’t need anyone, let me assure you, you do, and you will. 

And with that, I’ll wrap this up with Numbers 6:24-26; 

“‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

May you know Him and love Him with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength.

Have a beautiful day friends!