When Healing Is SLOW

By now, may of you know that I am 5 days post-op for gallbladder surgery.  It was not my idea of a good time, but seeing as I had a marble sized stone removed along with my gallbladder, it needed to be done.  Yes, I tried all the home remedies to avoid it...they didn't work, unfortunately.

So I went in Friday morning for surgery and got to come home mid-afternoon.  They said I did great.  What do they know??!

• I expected I would have a heart attack before the surgery because I was so scared.  I did not, thankfully.

•  I expected that I would be able to avoid the severe nausea that anesthesia and pain killers gives me.  I did not. 

• I expected to have my appetite back immediately.  I do not.

• I expected to be up and dressed and ready to go.  Nope, not that either.

See how this is going?

Let me say, I AM thankful for a successful surgery and the wonderful doctors and nurses who took care of me and pretended that I was NOT the biggest baby they had seen all week.  I am thankful that I am not in severe pain and was able to ditch the pain meds two days into healing.  I am thankful for friends who have sent food, cards, flowers, and sweet messages, and I am super thankful for my sweet family that has taken on running the household.

BUT...

I am frustrated.  I anticipated I would be sore, but I did not think it would feel like someone has tried to stir fry my insides. I did not think that no food would sound good to me.  I did not expect that taking a deep breath would send a pain straight through my rib cage.  I did not expect all I would feel like doing was sleeping.  I did not think going up or down the stairs would wear me out for the day and I certainly did not think I would not care whether I was showered or dressed.  Frankly, both take too much energy.

So, am I healing?  Let's hope so.  Everyone says I am.
Would I like a do over? Yes!  But I would have to start from day 1 again and quite frankly, no thank you!
Do I have a greater respect for people who have surgery of any kind?  YES!

It does not matter what surgery you are having done, cutting into a body is not natural and it does take a toll on your body.  Listening to others and their experiences is good in some ways, but expecting that your story will look the same is not reasonable.  I am pretty sure that is where I went wrong.

Expectations.  They will get you every time!
So will surgery!

Here's to next week looking better!

Blessings,

Time Does NOT Heal All Wounds

It is no secret that our family has traveled some rough roads in the past.  I am not in the secret business and tend to bear my heart in my blog.  But let's face it, rough roads and hurt are not unique to our family.  The Bible tells us that in this life we are going to have troubles.  

It is just part of our sinful world.  Sometimes those troubles are self inflicted and other times not, but regardless, they are very often painful and life altering.

A job loss.  

A death.

An unexpected move. 

An ended relationship.
An illness.

Regardless, we can be rocked to our very core and have to fight to recover.   Praise God we have friends and family that help in that fight, that stick by our side to comfort us, love us, and affirm us.  

But here is where we get stuck sometimes.  We look to people for healing and here is what they tell us- "time heals all wounds."  I have probably been guilty of even saying it once or twice.  But I have also had the opportunity to really meditate on it lately.  Here is what I have found.

Yes, with time, things may get a little less painful or a little more bearable or even a little more manageable.  But healed?  Nope.

So then what?

Here is what I found in my search for answers to the then what...

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Imagine that- the Bible had the answers I was seeking! ;)

You see, time does NOT heal all wounds.

God does!

If you are hurting, I would encourage you to not look to time, but to look to God instead.  Only He can heal.  In His time and His way.  

Until then, we trust and hope in Him.

Blessings,