An Unlikely Community

I experienced the most amazing blessing today – everyone at the pain management center celebrated with me as I told them about our new arrival coming later this week (we are bringing home our first foster baby on Thursday!). This is a day we've been waiting for – and I say we, because it truly is "we". Zach and I, along with my physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, biofeedback specialist, and others have been getting me ready to care for this baby. Without the encouragement, advice, strategies, and support of these people, this adventure would be much more daunting. While many of the exercises seemed silly (practicing making the bed, unloading the dishwasher... vacuuming), they have all been crucial steps in me learning the appropriate body mechanics and pacing so that I can do things without increasing my pain. Today there was a spirit of celebration in the center; I could sense their excitement for me. They were a huge part of the preparation – they should celebrate! Speaking from personal experience, it's moments like this that therapists wait for: patients realizing their dreams and making them happen.

And then during a group session with the psychologist, I received the most amazing affirmations from the other patients. As I shared with them our news and and the new direction that my life is taking, I also shared with them the internal struggles that I have, especially the idea of leaving my career behind, or at least putting it on hold for now. At the time it is just not feasible for me to return to work. I struggle with feeling inadequate, unproductive, unsuccessful. But then there are days like today, when the encouragement comes completely out of the blue, that show me what an incredible opportunity we have before us that a career would have gotten in the way of. The future is wide open, and we are still young. And I never expected to be so encouraged by a group of broken and hurting people – I'm always amazed at how God uses us all, no matter what the physical condition we're in.