Ok so for those of you who didn't know- about 6 months ago I completely tore my ACL skiing and a month ago I got reconstruction surgery.
At the time I didn't know the extent of my injury but I am quickly learning. Tearing a ligament is much different than breaking a bone. While I can't speak to what the pain difference is (I would think breaking a bone would be much worse), bones heal quickly in relation to a ligament.
Tearing a ligament is not an easy fix, especially when it's located in a major joint like the knee. However, a young and healthy body can fully recover in a relatively short time, maybe a half a year or so.
I had to wait thanks to college and trying to finish up my degree. Although my plans originally were to live in Southern Cal. God had other plans. I decided to come home for the summer where I wouldn't have to work and get surgery on my knee.
That catches me up to the day of surgery and now.
The first week was hard, no bones about it. I was absolutely drugged up and in pain when the drugs wore off. I don't remember much, thankfully. I do remember that many, many people either came by to visit, bring over flowers, send well wishes, give their regards, and bless me in various ways.
The second week I got my stitches out and started physical therapy with Don, my wonderful torturer. In actuality I'm very blessed to get the care I need for my knee and it was amazing to see just how fast my knee was healing. Less than 14 days after surgery I was putting full weight on my bad knee and in literally NO pain.
Third week was tough, I started walking without the crutches and, mostly due to impatience, my knee really started having trouble. Sometimes progress, as anyone who has had to come back from an injury knows, isn't a straight line. I was so encouraged by my church body and my family who has been very helpful and supportive.
The fourth week, which is right now, hasn't been without it's set of challenges, mainly emotional. I want to go to the beach and I want to be able to get up and get around without pain. I have all these wants and goals but, as I have realized over time, are not deserved. I'm not entitled to anything, much less a good knee.
I'm not trying to sound defeatist. It's not that I don't have faith that I will get better. But I also want to keep an attitude of thankfulness for the abilities I have right now, right this minute. There might be a few activities I can't do right now but I can certainly do a lot.
We had a guest pastor from China, Mark Borisuk, come to our church yesterday and something he said really struck me: "The fault of discontentment does not lie at the feet of your circumstances but at your own feet."
What I am going through may be a very small trial compared to others I know who have sick children, broken marriages, and financial worries, but God is still calling all of us, as believers, to strike down the sin of discontent and live in the precious moments of today instead of dwelling in the "better days."
Hindsight may be 20/20 and foresight may bring comfort, but our eyes should be fixed on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.
