My do it myself...

My do it myself - those were words that I used as a child.  I was independent even then.  I was not one to ask for help or to easily accept it.  I am still that way today.  Knowing that has led me to the lessons I learned in the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago, I injured my back, of all things, picking up a half full water bottle.  These weeks have been a lesson in patience.  Patience with myself and patience with others.  I have had to have patience with myself as my life has had to slow down.  You would not know it by looking at me but I am a very active person.  During this time I have had to take time off from work, my treadmill thinks I have forgotten about it, and things have gotten a little messy.  But I have had to learn to say "Oh well."  I need to recover, not do more damage.  I need to be patient so my recovery is weeks not months.  I have to have patience with myself knowing and doing what I need t do to recover.  I have to take the time to vary my activity, remember to take Aleve, use the icepack several times a day and ride the twenty minutes, one-way, to my chiropractor.

That last one leads me to my other lesson - patience with others.  It is easier for me to ask for help from God than it is for me to ask for help from others.  In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; know and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

I know that this is true.  I know my Father wants to give me what I need and many times what I want, but I have to have the faith to ask, seek and knock.  I have learned that I have to do that with my earthly father, mother and all those who surround me.  I need to know my limits, I need to share my limits, and I need to ask and seek help to compensate for those limits.  

My students asked me why I was gone and as a private person I did not want to share, but I try to always be honest with them.  So I told them what I had done and what I was going through.  The next thing I knew, three students walked through my classroom door, laid hands on me and prayed.  How humbling and how awesome that my students cared enough to take their time to find me and pray for me.  Without being patient to take the time to share with them when they stopped me to inquire, I would not have had that encouraging, joyful experience.  God had not healed me physically through that prayer (even though I know He could) but I believe God had His reasons.

I have also had to have patience as I have had to ask and seek help.  I have not driven (except two short times) since this happened.  That means I am dependent on someone to take me to work, the doctor, the store, etc.  I have to ask someone to pick things up that are too low or too heavy.  It is humbling to have a student chew you out because you bent down to pick up a single piece of paper from a bottom drawer.  She ended by saying, Ms D all you had to do was ask.  That's all I have to do.  All I have to do is ask - ask my heavenly Father and ask my earthly family and friends.

I need to remember Paul's outlook on his weakness because the same is true for me.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I know that my injury is nothing compared to what others go through daily.  But I also know that God can teach me even through this minor speed bump. I am grateful and humbled by the love, caring and help I have received.  I have learned that "my do it myself" is not a good philosophy to have or use. I guess my philosophy should be "my do it with help."