My son who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy told me recently, "I love my life." May I endeavor to love my life as a person with all my working limbs and mind, as much as he does. May I learn from my physical weakness, what he already knows—life is good, God is good, I accept what has been given to me.
My goodness, Mel. Thanks for sharing this with me. I heard a theologian (Amos Yong) write once in a book that a family member with Downs told him how at the resurrection he didn’t want to be “fixed.” He wanted to be who he was. I sense that our ableist assumptions about life—that everyone should be like me—actually end up inhibiting our capacity to understand the gift of limitations. Thanks for vulnerably sharing this with us.
At 73, after spinal fusion surgery a year and a half ago and total knee replacement 5 weeks ago, your words hit hard. The body will fail to meet the expectations we had for it in youth. And trying to treat it with compassion instead of disappointment and maybe even anger, is difficult. But the forced down time does bring the opportunity to draw near to God, both for strength and for healing, physically and emotionally. God provided me with this body, and He has, and will continue, to use it to bring me to where He wants me to be. Thank you for that reminder.
Ugh. Thank you for this. At 52, after a week on the road for work, I’m feeling low and having a hard time recovering my energy. Your piece is a reminder not to judge myself for lagging, but to embrace who I am NOW, adjust expectations, and be gentle with myself. Trying to listen to the prophet. 😂
Two articles in a row from you have hit the nail on the head of my journey. Of course, this one is hard to swallow because who wants to admit that we have limits? The narrative that has shaped the unstated parts of my soul says that I just need to work a bit harder. Thank you for naming this.
You are welcome. One of the things that continues to come my way is this resounding sense that aging is not a sin. I think, in the past, I would have never said it was. But it was like sin-adjacent. I dunno. Like something seems to have shifted in my heart. And the newfound limitations my body is giving me is not a problem. Thanks for your response, brother.
AJ, I am turning 70 this month and thought longevity is in my genetic makeup of my linage, I have had to come to terms with a few things that I am not really pleased with but God has helped me to just embrace. Your words are an encouragement as most always.
My son who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy told me recently, "I love my life." May I endeavor to love my life as a person with all my working limbs and mind, as much as he does. May I learn from my physical weakness, what he already knows—life is good, God is good, I accept what has been given to me.
My goodness, Mel. Thanks for sharing this with me. I heard a theologian (Amos Yong) write once in a book that a family member with Downs told him how at the resurrection he didn’t want to be “fixed.” He wanted to be who he was. I sense that our ableist assumptions about life—that everyone should be like me—actually end up inhibiting our capacity to understand the gift of limitations. Thanks for vulnerably sharing this with us.
Amen.
At 73, after spinal fusion surgery a year and a half ago and total knee replacement 5 weeks ago, your words hit hard. The body will fail to meet the expectations we had for it in youth. And trying to treat it with compassion instead of disappointment and maybe even anger, is difficult. But the forced down time does bring the opportunity to draw near to God, both for strength and for healing, physically and emotionally. God provided me with this body, and He has, and will continue, to use it to bring me to where He wants me to be. Thank you for that reminder.
Ugh. Thank you for this. At 52, after a week on the road for work, I’m feeling low and having a hard time recovering my energy. Your piece is a reminder not to judge myself for lagging, but to embrace who I am NOW, adjust expectations, and be gentle with myself. Trying to listen to the prophet. 😂
Let the prophet be heard, sir. :)
Two articles in a row from you have hit the nail on the head of my journey. Of course, this one is hard to swallow because who wants to admit that we have limits? The narrative that has shaped the unstated parts of my soul says that I just need to work a bit harder. Thank you for naming this.
You are welcome. One of the things that continues to come my way is this resounding sense that aging is not a sin. I think, in the past, I would have never said it was. But it was like sin-adjacent. I dunno. Like something seems to have shifted in my heart. And the newfound limitations my body is giving me is not a problem. Thanks for your response, brother.
AJ, I am turning 70 this month and thought longevity is in my genetic makeup of my linage, I have had to come to terms with a few things that I am not really pleased with but God has helped me to just embrace. Your words are an encouragement as most always.
Brice
You always encourage me, Brice!
Always good
I hear you! And you’re still a youngster to me. 😀