Thanks

Written by cycleguy on November 23rd, 2016

As I write this it is a rainy Wednesday. The day before the world in general (with a few exceptions) will focus on Thanksgiving. True, some find football a whole lot more fun, but not this boy. My Thanksgiving Day will consist of the following:

The church serving our community a lunch from 11-1:00 at the local Lion’s Club (their building is in town and the church building is not). We will also deliver a whole bunch of meals.

I have two traditions that I have done for years. I watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Santa Clause” sometime Thursday. Well, our local theater is going to show “IaWL” on Sunday for free so I will go to that. So Jo and I plan to watch “White Christmas,” one of my other staple movies during the holidays.

I’m guessing a nap might be in there somewhere.

I will take some time to be thankful. My recent car/bicycle accident has me a bit more reminiscent than normal. To be aware that only 2″ separated me from either permanent damage (paralysis) or even death, tends to wake up even the sleepiest soul. I’m not going to rehash the scene. You can read it here and here.  Unfortunately, even though my memory wants to erase the event and forgive the perpetrator, my body keeps reminding me of it. On Monday I go to a general surgeon who will take a look at the giant hematoma on my left hip where he used me for a bumper car. I had to go to Urgent Care last week, and when nothing happened and things got worse with the rest of my leg, I went to my family doctor Tuesday. The surgeon will decide if it is be drained (can you say knock me out?) or let it go. It will be 3 weeks to the day that it happened. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember because my body reminds me.

However, I am also impressed by God’s amazing design and how it heals. The bruising is lessening (it has moved from my hip to my thigh/hamstring, to my knee, to my calf and now to my foot. The painfully sore bruised shoulder muscles (inside) have healed enough to start lifting weights again. I have yet to be back on my bike. Not because I’m afraid but because of the discomfort of this hematoma.

I’m thankful I’m alive. I’m thankful I have a family who was concerned. I’m thankful for a marvelous church family who showed me in spades how much they love me. It has been my pleasure to love them for 11 years. In less than a week they showed me what I meant to them. *Tears on cheeks right now* I am thankful for you, my online family, who have said you would pray for me. I believe you did. I still pray for the one who did it. Not for vengeance but so I can forgive them.

This has gone longer than any post I have written in the past 4 or 5 years so it is time to shut it down. 🙂  Thanks for listening. Thanks for your prayers. Be truly thankful this year.

 

5 Comments so far ↓

  1. Linda Stoll says:

    You’ve suffered quite a traumatic incident … on more than one level, friend.

    Please allow yourself plenty of grace and time to work through the impact of what has happened to your body, your soul, your mind, your emotions.

    I’d even {gasp!} encourage you not to rush into forgiveness, either.

    I’m praying … and cheering you on. Thanksgiving blessings to you and Jo.

    Grace and peace.

  2. Rodney Olsen says:

    So glad that the healing is continuing. I find for myself that those things that used to heal quickly take a bit longer these days.

    I do hope that the injuries don’t keep you off your bike for too much longer.

  3. floyd says:

    I always appreciate your heart, Bill. Praying for you. It’s encouraging to see how our Father can use any event to bring us more wisdom and closer to Him.

    Happy Thanksgiving, brother.

  4. Lisa notes says:

    Oh my!!! I’ve been behind in reading. I didn’t know you’d had this accident. I’m so sorry, but thankful that you weren’t injured even more severely. Praying for you as you heal, both in body and in soul.

  5. Ed says:

    Hey Bill, please keep us posted on what the surgeon says so we can continue to pray for you. Hope you didn’t eat too much (or hope that you did eat too much!) 😀
    Thankful for you Pastor! Keep walking in faith! (Pun intended)