Thursday September 29 2016  THE AMAZING HUMAN BODY

As I age I have become more aware of my body.  Perhaps it is because my body is talking louder than it used to.  Anyway, I can hear it better.

There was a time when I hardly had to think about what I was doing, could do, how difficult would it be to do, or the fact that I would become fatigued.  My body just did what I wanted it to do without me needing to really think about it at all.  It’s not that way anymore.  I take no part of my body for granted.  In order to work or play or sleep efficiently my body requires purposeful and attentive care.  I am so thankful that I can do as much as I can do. 

But never have I been more thankful for my body than I was yesterday when my right knee was hurting.  I just looked up to heaven and said to God, “God, thank You that I feel the pain in my right knee because I am so thankful that I have a knee in which to feel the pain.”  And I meant it from the bottom of my heart!

Before I got out of bed yesterday I was perusing my iPhone and came across a topic that said “Torso Man”.  My curiosity got the best of me and I clicked on that story.  That is something I almost never do!  I don’t normally “surf” the web for anything.  My heart was so saddened by what I saw.  It was a handsome young man, about 28 years old, who had been born without arms or legs; absolutely no part of either.  His parents had relinquished him to foster care as an infant.  An older woman took him in.  She was about 52 years old at the time and is now 75 years old. 

This young man is brilliant, charming, college educated, and can do absolutely nothing for himself.  He does have a wheelchair that can be maneuvered by his mouth.  He can move his head up and down and from side to side and that is it.  He must be placed in a seat specifically fitted to the contours of his body which allows him to be propped upright.  His spirit is amazing.

When he was about 3 or 4 years old he said to his “mom”, “I’ll have arms and legs when I get older, right?”  She told him no.  He then said, “I’ll have arms and legs when I get to be old like “PaPa”?  She told him, “No; you’ll never have arms or legs.”  He asked why.  She told him that God had made him that way because through his life he would bless others and God made him for a purpose.  A few other things were spoken which made me realize that this woman was a godly woman and was raising her “son” as a godly young man. 

Later as I was thinking about this man the thought came into my mind that when he arrives in heaven he will then have arms and legs.  I gave praise to God for the godly teaching this young man has received in his life and heard that still quiet voice inside me say, “It was no accident”.  And I knew in my heart that someday I really will see him in heaven.  It was God who provided just the right caretaker for that little precious baby who was given away because it was just too heartbreaking for his parents to keep him.  I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for them too.  But God’s plan was perfect.  Perhaps just hearing about his story will bless you as it did me.  And perhaps it will cause you to not take for granted all you can do, but instead to be grateful for EVERYTHING that you can do.

After viewing that U-tube story it has given me an even greater appreciation for my body.  My body is getting older and a bit more decrepit.  However, if I have the blessing of living a few more years it may fail me altogether.  Even then, I will give praise and thanks to God for what I can do, what I have been able to do, and I will try my very best to not take for granted the freedom of whatever movement I have.

EVERYDAY IS A MIRACLE

Kathleen Martens

September 29, 2016

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Every day is a miracle

When I set my feet on the floor,

When I can brush my teeth,

Or walk out the door.

When I have the freedom

To get in my car and go

I hope to never take it for granted,

Even as I age and get so slow.

I hope I remember to never complain

About the pains I feel here and there,

Instead I desire to be thankful

That my feet are a matching pair.

And so thankful I have two arms

And two hands that still work,

So when there are things to do

My tasks I will not shirk.

Oh Lord, let us never forget

That regardless of our dearth,

You have a purpose for our life!

 And a reason for everyone on earth!

Oh God, I am so grateful for having arms and legs my entire life.

Thank You Lord that I have two knees.

Thank You for Your love that You have for each one of Your children, and that each one is perfect in Your eyes, because You created them for a purpose.

A little story I once heard.

There was a large room of people who all carried a cumbersome bag.  This parcel they carried represented their life story and all the burdens they had in the world.  Hearts were weighed down by what they carried in their bags.  God was also in the room.  He spoke to everyone and told them to go and lay down their baggage over by the wall.  They all did so.  Then God spoke and told them that they could each go over and pick up any bag they wanted.  The group silently pondered a moment, looked around at the others, and then each went over to the wall and picked up their own bag and silently left.

My comment:  MORAL OF THE STORY:  The known MUST be better than what is unknown.  

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.