Much to lose

I almost made a decision that would've permanently altered my life in a bad way.

Thinking back to what I almost did, causes heaves in my stomach and prickles under the surface of my skin. I had no idea I had so much to lose.

I kneed to tell you this story because it's a cattle-prodding reminder of our need for God's wisdom and an openness to hear wisdom from an unexpected source.

Sunday, I attended a new Sunday school class. It's a class made up of a kalidiscope of women yearning for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. At the end, the leader of the class asked if anyone had prayer requests. Before I arrived at church, I planned to keep my mouth shut and ease myself back into the church community as a fly on the wall. Anonymity was my goal.

Several requests were shared. The leader looked around the room asking if anyone else needed prayer. My mouth opened and I asked for much kneeded prayer.

"Um, I had surgery two months ago on my knee and I'm not able to get the swelling and pain under control. Physical therapy is too expensive and probably won't do me any good. Swimming seemed to help when I was in PA, so I guess I'm asking for you to pray I can get access to a pool. I also need wisdom on how to figure out my knee issues on my own."

After prayer, class broke up so the next group could use the room. A woman approaches me.

"Wow. It's funny you asked about access to a pool. My daughter broke her leg two months ago and is learning to walk, so we have access to a community pool along with some free passes. Call me tomorrow and we'll start you swimming. I'd love to play with Kyle while you swim and my daughter water-walks."

Deb proceeds to tell me that her husband is my husbands primary care doc at Kaiser. She asked me who my PT was and why I wanted to be my own therapist. Did I have a degree in physical therapy?

Before going our separate ways to join our families for the 10:40 service, she made me promise to call my PT. (Her daughter has the same PT who happens to be the department head and one of the best in Kaiser.) One visit was all Deb made me promise. And she was going to hold me to it.

It's important to know that on average, it takes two weeks to get an appointment in the PT department. I called Monday morning, and was sitting on the PT table at 8AM Tuesday morning.

The PT listened to my frustrations with pain, swelling and a lack of progress. She took measurements of my knee's ability to flex and extend. My extension was 8 degrees short of my good knee.

"It's good you came in because you are nine weeks out of surgery, and if you don't regain full range of motion by twelve weeks, your knee will be permanently bent which will cause you a lot of pain, and will injure the muscles connected to the knee. You have three weeks to gain 8 degrees and it won't be easy. Also, your kneecap doesn't move. We need to get it in motion ASAP before any more scar tissue builds up."

She told me the consequences of failing to follow through with therapy will make hiking, biking and the other physical activities I love, almost impossible to do. I'd also live with increasing pain and injury to the joint. I had a lot to loose.

I had no clue.

I assumed I could do the knee thing on my own to save a few bucks (and avoid doing painful things I knew the PT would prescribe).

God immediately provided both the wisdom I kneeded, and the resource (pool) to follow through. My PT gave me a huge list of exercises which does take up most of my day. Rehabbing my knee is my full-time job right now. I see her again in a few weeks.

Thinking about how close I came to incapacitating myself over $30 is humbling.

I'm so glad I have a Father in Heaven who not only saves me from my sin, but saves me from my self!