God Cares

An MRI revealed that the excruciating pain in my shoulder was due to a problem with some vertebrae in my spine. I elected to have surgery, but when I came out of surgery I could not move my arms or legs. I was a quadriplegic.

After receiving treatment at three different rehab centers, my wife found an opening for me at a skilled nursing facility. It was a relief to both of us to be in a place that provided such a high level of care.

I’ve made slow progress, and today I’m able to use both arms and move my left leg. I can feed myself and perform other limited tasks.

I am a Christian psychotherapist, and I’ve been on staff as a pastor at two large churches. I’m used to being the one who offers help, so accepting help has been quite a challenge for me. The verse above from First Peter has played over and over in my mind during this time.

With the encouragement of the chaplain at the nursing facility, I agreed to lead one service a month with the help of my wife. In doing so, I’ve realized it’s truly more blessed to give than to receive. It’s an honor to be able to extend encouragement. My daily prayer is to encourage others who have experienced similar challenges.