On Monday I got up early as usual, read a chapter in my "Love to Pray" book for the class I am taking at church, did a P90X2 workout, showered, got the kids ready & to school, then headed to work at Fitness Together. I had a couple of trainings, some new client orientations and then spent some time organizing clients in the computer. After sitting there happily typing away for a half hour or so, I noticed a little twinge in my right ankle - kind of like it needed to pop. Over the next 10 minutes it started hurting a bit more intensely, and as I packed up my things to leave, it started getting really hot. As I drove home it got worse and worse, to the point where I had to take off my shoe at a stop light, use my left foot to drive the last mile home. By the time I pulled into the garage, I was in tears and could not even put it on the ground to walk. I hopped around the kitchen attempting to make my lunch, and put an ice pack on it when I sat down to eat, hoping it would help. I couldn't even take my sock off it hurt so badly! Unfortunately, the ice didn't help at all and it kept swelling and getting hotter. It was the strangest thing. I prayed, "Lord, as quickly as this came on I know you can heal it"...I feel like I'm pretty tough and I was just beside myself with the pain!
I was able to get an appointment with my nurse practitioner (who also happens to be my ski buddy) for later that afternoon. My sweet husband put everything on hold at work and rushed home to pick the kids up at school and take me up to the doctor where I literally hopped into the doctor's office. After examining me the nurse was as confused as I was -- she called for an x-ray which ended up showing no break, sprain or any bone damage. After further examination and me "lighting up" as they put it when the doctor pressed on either side of my ankle, they determined it was a ligament strain. They put me in a boot and said if it wasn't better by the next afternoon I would need to come in for a shot.
After being in the boot for just a few minutes the ankle started feeling better. When we got home I could actually walk around and fix dinner (I enjoyed the extra help and sympathy!). By the time we went to bed it was feeling quite good and although it was still swollen and warm to the touch, I could even walk on it without the boot. I started feeling almost guilty about how much better it was already feeling.
The next morning it was still a little swollen but I could totally walk on it and not feel any pain. I had to be at Cargill most of the day and it was a bit embarrassing when all the people who knew John had left on my behalf the day before came up to ask me with great concern how my foot was. There I was, walking around like nothing had happened! My nurse friend couldn't believe it when I text her how good it was feeling and that I felt confident we could keep our ski date on Thursday. Is that not crazy?
Later that night this thought came to me: Why was I so surprised that my foot was healed when that's exactly what I prayed for? And why was I claiming to everyone how crazy it was that I felt so much better instead of sharing how God had answered my prayer to heal it quickly? Why do I pray for things and then not expect the answer to be granted?
It truly was a strange experience that triggered a huge ruckus in our family, caused my nurse friend and our doctor to stay late and disrupted John's day at work. And in the end, my first thought was not to praise God for healing but to just wonder at how in the world it was back to normal! I am so thankful for grace and how God gently reminded me of His role as Healer. Later in the week as people continued to ask how the ankle was getting along, shared instead how it wasn't really that odd I was back to normal so quickly since I had prayed for a quick healing and God opted to show up in that way for me. What a blessing it was for me and for our family it was a short-lived injury.
And yes, I did go skiing on Thursday and had a fantastic day with my friends Phil, Karen and Suzanne. We even skiied the bumps -- a lot! A blessing of a day.
Jen
