Being Grateful

April 26, 2017

Day 115: Vital Signs Of Faith:
"Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.' But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, 'That's blasphemy! Does he think he is God?' Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, 'Wy do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is is easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk?' So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.' Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 'Stand up, pick up your mat and go home!' And the man jumped up and went home!" —Matthew 9:2-7

I love this story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man. I wish I could have seen the look on the faces of those who questioned and doubted Him. If this had happened today, I bet Trump and his followers would say that it was a staged event. "It's fake news!" they would cry. "They were paid to act out the scene."

Day 116: Rolling Through Life:
"I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!"
—Lamentations 3:21-22

Anderson's lesson today really boils down to being grateful for the things we have, whether it be physical health, monetary wealth, or simply being alive and able to enjoy God's creation. That's not exactly how he put it, but that is what I got out of his story of the young man who survived a terrible car accident and lost his ability to walk. The young man was still grateful, just to have his life.  He didn't get depressed and wish his life had gone in a different direction. He cheerfully accepted the fact that he would be in a wheelchair, and he didn't let it stop him or slow him down from doing the things he really wanted to do. When I hear a story like this one about Neil, I am reminded of countless other stories like it in which people overcome incredibly difficult physical circumstances. Their stories are deeply humbling and incredibly inspiring.

As I have mentioned before, I have had multiple opportunities in my life to have maimed myself permanently: car accidents, four-wheeling accidents, water-skiing accidents, bicycling accidents..., but I have been lucky.  I don't know what my response would be to losing my ability to walk, or use my arms, or to see or hear, but I'd like to think that I would be able to bounce back from such a loss and still love life and be grateful. I would probably go through a mourning period. I don't think I would immediately accept my circumstance...if I am to be honest, but I'd hope that I'd come around, get over myself, and learn to live again.

In truth, I hope to never have to find out.