Starting Over

As human beings, one of our most impressive characteristics is our ability to cope and adjust to adversity. All of us are capable of meeting the challenge of an adversity and turning it into a positive thing as we go about adjusting and coping. I have been given the opportunity to overcome a paralysis. I have tried to see the challenge with a “try me” attitude instead of a “why me” attitude.

I thought I did pretty well. I was able to get most things back, like walking and tying my shoes. I worked each day on walking. What I did not realize is the initial challenge is only part of the story. I am being shown a new lesson now. Each day a little bit of the abilities I worked to regain are slipping away, little by little. I am being faced with starting over. Starting over will require different coping and adjustment skills than the initial paralysis. As with any adversity, there is a good side, I find myself more thankful for each mobility skill I hold on to for another day. As I begin to beat the paralysis a second time, I will be less likely to take even the simplest gain for granted. I am sure I will work harder the second time. In fact, I may have needed to start over in order to get back more at the end of the day. Without starting over my final recovery may have been limited. Remember Jesus Christ loves me and is in charge of this whole thing. HE knows what He is doing. You don’t have to be sick and paralyzed to be faced with starting over. Think of a person who has built up a business over years and years of sacrifice and hard work, only to see their business slip away little by little. I understand a little more now what that must be like. The next time you see someone having to start over, you may have to give him or her two hugs. It’s takes a little more courage to face the same challenge a second time.

The important assumption is that I will be blessed with the opportunity to start over. I choose to see starting over not as a setback but a blessing and a gift from God. I think viewing a setback as a gift is a good thing to do. We all do a task better the second time around.