Little Boys and Swinging Ropes

It’s hard to catch your breath after having the wind knocked out of you, as my boy experienced recently when one of his favorite swinging ropes broke. It hurt, but could’ve been much worse. He’d been warned it was a matter of time, and though he learned a valuable lesson, he’s still swinging from other strategically placed ropes around the farm. In a way, I feel the wind has been knocked out of me, too, and catching my breath after surgery has been harder than I expected. I decided; because it has been almost a week since the procedure to fuse three vertebrae in my neck (etc.), and since I’m strong and determined, I was going to get up with the family and help them get off to school (instead of laying in bed while Mr. Blackburn took care of business, like he’s been doing with faithful diligence through all of this). In the process of my attempt to ready a simply breakfast, however, I made a terrible mess in the kitchen and ended up in tears, feeling very sorry for myself. I realized just how compromised my body is and how weakened I am, after surgery. I see the problem affecting my left hand, arm, shoulder and neck has been corrected, but I have overall weakness and am very uncoordinated. Even trying to limit the movement of objects (weighing more than five pounds, per doctor’s orders), I did a poor job of it. Needless to say, the family ate breakfast anyway, and Mr. Blackburn got the children to school. Personal trials and challenges are opportunities for learning and growth. People often hear me say “It’s the struggle that makes you strong.” Never has anyone competed for anything without coming to see the limits of his own weakness (when Wisdom was present). Without recognizing weaknesses, we cannot develop strengths. If there is pain in the process, it means a weakness has identified itself. Perhaps not in the way we first expected, but with endurance, strength will come, in time. This morning, I thought my goal was to serve my family, as I’ve tried to do for decades, because I love them. As it turned out, many of them served me; comforted me… speaking love to me. What I thought I needed to accomplish wasn’t what I needed at all. It seems it wasn’t really what my family needed in that moment, either. Sometimes, regardless of our preparedness or intent, we’re surprised we can’t seem to catch that breath. Though it may not seem so, it’s for a wise purpose. Will all little boys stop swinging from ropes because it’s dangerous and can sometimes result in pain? I really hope not.