Convalescence

I'm currently going through a time of recovery, mainly physical, but even more I'm learning it's spiritual as well.  Convalescence is a word I've heard of before, like in the movies or on TV.  It's not so much a term used often in everyday language.  It refers to the period of time following an illness or surgery, specifically including rest.  I found this word when I googled "When can I return to work after having pneumonia?"  ... that's right, pneumonia.

Let me take you back one week, it was the flu.  Let me take you back ten days before that, it was a car wreck (insert quick explanation-I'm fine, he pulled out in front of me and has terrible insurance).  Now let's go back about a month prior to the wreck, and its the day after my dad has surgery following his diagnosis of prostate cancer (insert quick explanation-he's now cancer free :) and recovered, they found it early!) I don't think he'll mind me publishing his personal business, since he knows I've put him on every prayer list I can.  That, and the fact this blog isn't hitting the front page of any big news paper.

Let's back up about 3 more weeks, it's now December 8th, 2012.  This is the day we had scheduled our youth Christmas party, and 2 days after I had the pleasure of hosting the women's Christmas party for my church (SUPER fun!).  Life seemed normal, which meant it was busy-which is perfectly normal...for me.  I had just dropped off Mya with family friends of ours and was headed home to help host the party.  In an instant (that's usually how it happens) the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes, I slammed on my brakes, spun out, and slammed into the concrete median on the interstate.  Lungs full of the airbag debris, and no clue what had just happened.  I climbed out of the explorer, totally disoriented, and at the mercy of strangers trying to help me.  I eventually went off to the hospital on a board and in an ambulance just for precaution.  I might spare you the embarrassing details, but let's just say I was in shock.

THANK GOD the only lingering injury I have from the wreck is my fractured tailbone.  If you have every experienced this, than you know what a total pain in the-well you know..... It's bothersome, and really only flares up when I'm on my rear for too long.

Ok, so now you see where my convalescence has been earned.  It's been a tiresome two months. And let's not skim too lightly over the flu/pneumonia incident either, I have not been through any illness like that! It's a blur, and amazing to me that simple things like breathing, and walking, much less going upstairs...tires me out so easily.

Now, I'm a believer in the fact that we go through experiences in life for a reason, wether we led ourselves there through our decisions, or God allowed it, or it's God's will.  Regardless, if you've read any of my other entries in this blog, you are familiar with my wanting to take something away to learn and grow from this.

I have taken the first wreck to mean it's time to get moving, get off my stump, and end the laziness.  As we started the new year at church, our pastor delivered series on Awake, Seek, Engage.  The awake portion especially spoke to me.  Check it out here.  I will admit that I've been undisciplined in my walk with the Lord.  I have slacked in almost every way- reading His word, in my prayer life, and in relationships.  It's so easy to just get by, do the minimum.  And I find it so curious the enemy tangled me up in laziness...especially since I work against it every day with my students at school and my child at home.  Regardless, I'm resolved to get up off my rear (and I'm reminded of that each time my tailbone aches).

Lastly, this recent recovery from the wrecks and my pneumonia has begged me to slow down in my busy-ness of life.  If it makes sense, I know now that God wants me to awake and get off my butt spiritually, and for my busy-ness to be about Him.  I hate that I had to learn some of theses lessons and hear from God through these experiences, but that's the consequence to ignoring the Holy Spirit.  My doctor put it best, in his reluctance to release me back at a certain time for work (in some cases, I read online, 4-6 weeks...WHAT??? Who can be out of work for that long? Recovering after child birth maybe!)  He told my husband, I know she thinks she has things she HAS to do, but she has to rest.

Don't get me wrong, not all is doom-and-gloom for me, but it's these major life changes that cause me to reconsider things.  It's not "woe is me" but more, WOA!  What's up with me?  So, my spiritual clocked has been cleaned, and I'm on to the next with the Lord.  I feel like I'm spiritually awake, recovering, and finding rest in Him. This is convalescence... to those around you, you are basically back to normal, but there requires a bit more time and healing.