Funny, Painful Stuff

I saw a neurosurgeon this week. One of the many questions he asked me was, "Do you have good balance?"

I answered, "By 'good', would you mean -- do I trip often?"

He didn't answer quickly, so I admitted, "I've always been a bit of a klutz. That's nothing new."

Not unlike when we whisper a notion about almost anything which seems to compel the internet to eerily start popping up suggestions regarding that very topic, just hours after my appointment ... I tripped and fell.

It went like this …

Me (to my grown daughter after visiting a while in the house on their acreage) - “Lets go and see what the guys are doing out in the shop.”

In the darkness of the evening we then started our short trek toward their workshop. Although the lighting wasn't ideal, a blanket of fallen leaves welcomed us to crunch them.

Daughter - “Mom - just be careful because there’s a hole here somewhe—”

At that very moment I found the aforementioned hole, cutting her off suddenly as I fell hard onto the ground.

Me - “Ohhhhh …” I groaned, kneeling on the ground as a sharp pain pierced through my right knee.

Loving Daughter (standing over me) - “I guess you found the hole!”

Me (my laughter squelched by searing pain) - “I can’t move my leg but please ... snap a picture if you wish.”

Of course I eventually stood up, but instead of continuing to the shop I hobbled my hurt pride and body to the car. Then I sounded a little like Hyacinth (from Keeping Up Appearances) when I told my daughter, "Tell your father I'm ready to leave now."

My wise husband remained quiet as we drove home, instead of snickering as I imagine he wanted to.

I now wish someone would've videotaped that, actually. It had to have looked hilarious.

Life is often unpredictable and circumstances many times are not in our control. Our reaction, however, is.

While kneeling on the cold ground, I didn't immediately see humour but it didn't take long before it was obvious.

I don't know about you but I'm glad I'm not the one ultimately in control of things. If I wasn't held in God's hand it would seem more precarious, but since I know I am ... I can smile today and thank Him that nothing broke that night.

We've had some bad news this weekend. One truly sweet friend and one relative of ours both died, unexpectedly. Although there's nothing humorous about that, we know that God is in control of when we come into the world and when we will leave it. He sees where each of us lives and knows us better than we know ourselves. We may question him -- at least, I know I do -- but we must remain confident in His love for us.

Be blessed today, as we enter November, and praise God for all the love He shows -- through both the painful and the funny stuff.

Pattie Janzen