God's grace and the day-to-day strength He gives to His children is always sufficient...
Even now, as I write in my journal while I sit on a steel stool inside a prison cell, my left foot from just above the ankle and all the way down to my big toe, is swollen and inflamed. I'm in a great deal of pain, too.
I'm also having a problem with my kidneys. Sometimes they will produce too much substance called "uric acid." As, for reasons unknown to me, they're not able to filter out all the uric acid in my urine. The result is a build-up of the acid because I have more of it than my body could get rid of. So the excess acid will eventually accumulate inside my feet, ankles and legs. Then it will harden and crystallize. These crystals will then press against my nerve cells, causing inflammation and swelling. This results in a medical condition that's commonly called "gout."
When someone has a bad case of gout, walking is difficult, and standing is also painful. There is a continuous throbbing pain which stays with me day and night, even making sleep and rest hard to get.
So when I reported myself to the prison's Infirmary this past Monday, as soon as the nurse showed the doctor my swollen foot and gave him my blood pressure reading too, he wanted to put me in the hospital. I pleaded with him, however, to instead allow me to be placed on "bed rest" status with restriction to my cell. It's definitely better than lying in a lonely room in the hospital with nothing to do but go stir-crazy.
Yet, in spite of the crippling pain, I am rejoicing in the Lord. My body may be hurting, but my soul is well. God, I believe, is using this season of pain as a means of teaching me more about mercy and compassion.
Oftentimes, I think that those who are healthy tend to despise and look down upon those who may be in poor health. We tend to take good health for granted. And we secretly feel good about ourselves when we have no serious medical problems compared to other individuals who may be going through a time of sickness.
Well, never again for me. As I sit here in helpless pain, I am likewise learning about humility. The Lord, I'm certain, is showing me the importance of being thankful no matter what my situation may be. Also, to make certain that when I am in good health again, to treat those who are suffering from various maladies and ailments with kindness and patience.
D.B.
I'm also having a problem with my kidneys. Sometimes they will produce too much substance called "uric acid." As, for reasons unknown to me, they're not able to filter out all the uric acid in my urine. The result is a build-up of the acid because I have more of it than my body could get rid of. So the excess acid will eventually accumulate inside my feet, ankles and legs. Then it will harden and crystallize. These crystals will then press against my nerve cells, causing inflammation and swelling. This results in a medical condition that's commonly called "gout."
When someone has a bad case of gout, walking is difficult, and standing is also painful. There is a continuous throbbing pain which stays with me day and night, even making sleep and rest hard to get.
So when I reported myself to the prison's Infirmary this past Monday, as soon as the nurse showed the doctor my swollen foot and gave him my blood pressure reading too, he wanted to put me in the hospital. I pleaded with him, however, to instead allow me to be placed on "bed rest" status with restriction to my cell. It's definitely better than lying in a lonely room in the hospital with nothing to do but go stir-crazy.
Yet, in spite of the crippling pain, I am rejoicing in the Lord. My body may be hurting, but my soul is well. God, I believe, is using this season of pain as a means of teaching me more about mercy and compassion.
Oftentimes, I think that those who are healthy tend to despise and look down upon those who may be in poor health. We tend to take good health for granted. And we secretly feel good about ourselves when we have no serious medical problems compared to other individuals who may be going through a time of sickness.
Well, never again for me. As I sit here in helpless pain, I am likewise learning about humility. The Lord, I'm certain, is showing me the importance of being thankful no matter what my situation may be. Also, to make certain that when I am in good health again, to treat those who are suffering from various maladies and ailments with kindness and patience.
D.B.
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