I use to look at people on crutches and think it was no big deal. Though I have never had a broken bone, in my own mind, I didn't think it would be that bad. You just get a cast right?
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having a broken ankle means you can't just get up and walk across a room easily. It means you need help doing even the simplest of tasks. I found that I needed help carrying things...I couldn't just make my lunch and carry it to the table. How can I do that on crutches? I found that I needed help getting places...up and down stairs...etc. I needed people to bring me things. I needed help grocery shopping. I needed help doing laundry. I needed help going through doors into restaurants/stores.
Having a broken ankle means much time spent just sitting still, foot propped up with ice on it. It means getting muscle spasms because certain muscles are not being used. It means not being able to just get up easily in the middle of the night for the restroom.
Having a broken ankle means learning to use crutches. It means getting everywhere slower than normal. It means callouses on your hands from the crutches. It means hopping up and down stairs very strategically so as to NOT fall......which I failed at two different times......
Having a broken ankle has changed my outlook on so many things!
First off, I have learned a new appreciation for my feet. If you are able to walk on your own right now, count your blessings!!!! I realized that I took being able to walk and run for granted. I didn't realize how precious of a gift that is until I lost the use of one foot.
Secondly, I have learned what it's like to depend on everyone around you. I am so accustomed to being independent and doing so many things for myself. Breaking my ankle put me into an emotional mess of realizing that I had to depend on every person around me for just about everything I needed. I felt like I was stressing my family out (which I'm sure I was.....). I felt needy....I felt so horrible for suddenly having my independence taken away.
But you know what? God reminded me that this dependence on others was EXACTLY what He wants us to do with HIM!!!! How often do we try to do things for ourselves instead of depending on our Heavenly Father? Instead of being out on our own, God wants us to look to Him and depend on Him for all the things we need. Though it may be hard to give up our independence, things will always go better when we place all our dependence on Him.
So, that being said, I guess this broken ankle has brought out some good lessons to learn..... I know I will never again take my ability to walk for granted!!!!!!!!!!
APPRECIATION
10 years ago
