God is good...

For the last 6-8 weeks, I have been suffering from back pain. I wrote it off to catching a draft on my kidney area, or maybe having a kidney stone, or an infection or just being too old and too fat. Two weeks ago, I started preparing for Christmas and moved two rooms of furniture after which I was immobile for two days. That passed and became just a pain again by the next Friday. So... I cleaned my garage. I moved tables, 6 ses of golf clubs, toted a carload to Goodwill, put stuff on the racks over the garage area, some stuff in the basement and living room and just lifted, moved and stored for a few hours. By Saturday, I was on the heating pad, unable to move again, with spasms of pain in my lower back. I couldn't sleep as any movement forced me to wake up and reposition, trying to find a place of comfort. I refused to call a doctor since I was not eager to get treatment or face the reality that I could have been in real trouble. I sufferered through the pain and discomfort and then on Monday night, about 11:30 I rolled wrong and had pain like I had never felt before. I spent the next hour wondering how I could get out of bed to go to the emergency room without waking my family. And then I did something I haven't done in a long long time...I prayed for myself. I prayed for the end of pain, for the comfort of good health, for sleep. I prayed that God send His healing to me and me alone...yes, I acknowledged that there were people who were worse off than I was, but I selfishly prayed for ME! When the alarm went off at four I wondered how I would get out of the bed to turn it off, and I simply rolled over and reached out and ... no pain! I can't explain it. And because I can't explain it, I can say that by remembering where my healing would come from I was able to be healed. Now, I am still a little sore, but on Tuesday I put my socks on without falling over, got dressed without using Duke's "grabber" and was able to sit comfortably all day at work. A doctor might say that the bad roll restored my back to the proper position. A psychologist may say I had just been in the midst of a bout of hypochondria and self-absorbtion that ran its course in my fatigue. An atheist wouldn't say anything because they surely wouldn't have me for a friend after I spent the night in prayer.

But I say...GOD IS GREAT! Don't we know that all we ask for in His name will be given to us? So, till I write again, pray for each other, and please. pray for yourselves. Your needs will be met when your faith is expressed.

Merry Christmas

There! I said it! And guess what? If you answer, and Happy Hanukkah! or Joyous Kwanzaa! I will be respectful of your holiday, too.
Because I know you celebrate Hanukkah, I may wish you a Happy Hanukkah! I will not though automatically become Jewish, nor will I suddenly be an African American by acknowledging your celebration of Kwanzaa.
I just know that each of us celebrates our holidays in different ways and I want to recognize you as a person who respects his or her own beliefs, heritage and existance.
So if I do not say "Happy Holidays" it's because I would not feel right insulting you. Please do not insult me either.