I know that God has so many things in store for me, and now that I am living a HEALTHIER, HAPPIER life, I will be able to experience and share those BLESSINGS!
So, the title reads "Jumping Hurdles" ...
I have began to look at myself as a track star, someone who looks far beyond the first 50 yards, the first hurdle. Someone who is so anxious to reach that last 1/4 mile, someone who can't wait to leap over that first hurdle, but once he jumps off the starting block, reality soon sets in and his focus is quickly interrupted when he reaches the third hurdle along his journey to reaching that finish line. As he leaps to clear the third hurdle, his foot gets caught and he falls to the ground, he quickly tries to get back up! See, he continues to see the finish line just a few yards away and he so badly wants to reach that line, but his legs say NO!!
His legs are sort of like God speaking to him, telling him to slow down. It's okay to move slower than you would like. It's okay to reach the finish line a 1/2 second slower than you were hoping, really, it is okay. God says take the time to enjoy this journey that He has set forth.
You see, the last three weeks I have been trying to reach that finish line quicker than what God has set forth for me to do. I have hurried myself along in the phase of eating more solid foods, so fast that I have caused my body to react in a negative way. Even though my body was crashing like the track star that got hung up on the third hurdle, I continued to let the sight of that finish line force me to try to get up and move forward. Every time I tried to move forward, I crashed again, finally after crashing so hard I decided to listen and slow down.
Yesterday, my 44Th birthday, I had a procedure(EGD) done to find out what was causing my body to react negatively to solid foods. Of course the doctors give you the worst case scenario before the procedure takes place, so, due to that, I had expectations of spending the night in the hospital, but praying to go home with the best case scenario. Trusting in God and having FAITH in knowing that He is in control of whatever the outcome may be, I was at peace with whatever would soon take place. Once again, the best case scenario played out and I was home by 2pm yesterday afternoon, I was groggy and very tired, but I knew I could go home and rest in the comfort of my own bed.
You ask, what is the worst/best case scenario... well, worst case was a blockage and surgery to repair the blockage. Best case overall would have been absolutely nothing, but, my best case turned out to be a diagnosis of ulcers around the opening of the new stomach, nothing that medication and a liquid diet can't take care of and of course a lot of praying and believing!! After all, I really have no desire for food, so a liquid diet sounded good to me, especially since I could go home and enjoy the rest of my birthday, peacefully!!
You see, I have become overly anxious in my JOURNEY to a HEALTHIER, HAPPIER life. Nearly 3 months post-op, I look and feel like a new man. I have the desire to get up every morning and take on the world, full force with the wind pushing me forward from behind. But my body says no, it's not time. My body is telling me to slow down, but my mind has tried so hard to control this situation and since my mind won't listen to my body, God has intervened and instructed me to listen. You see, God knows how and when to get your attention, and it isn't always in a positive way, but He sure knew how to get mine and I have finally slowed down and decided to let my body dictate when it's time to push harder and move a little faster, after all, in the end the stop clock will still read the same, because it's all in God's timing and He makes no mistakes!!
Today I challenge each of you to listen to your bodies calls, listen to the aches and pains and pay attention to it's desires. Take care of yourself first and foremost, because...
YOU ARE #1 IN YOUR LIFE
Thank you again to all who have thought of me, prayed for me and continue to LOVE me!!
Until next post,
Tony
4 comments:
It is amazing when you stop and realize what is being said. It is real easy to pass things off as having no meaning, but look around and let Him in and you will understand.
Love you Uncle Tony.
your body is a great way to learn how to focus and listen to God. God gave us these bodies, and so we have to assume He will use them! I like the end about taking a deep breath and taking time to enjoy the exhale...sometimes, just feeling that breath, being in the moment, brings everything back into focus- in that breath you can find that things are ok just as they are!
Wow. Tony that was amazing. Im inspired by you. Has anyone ever told you that you are an amazing writer. Keep it up. Bubba
go Tony!
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