I’ve got a long way to go in my recovery, but I’ve come an incredible distance. I had a beautiful reminder of that last night as I celebrated Second Christmas with my former neighbors who used to visit me in REHAB. When I first moved to Germany, I met this couple but was unable to communicate with them directly because they don’t speak any English. Gundi was reflecting with her daughter about how when she and her husband first visited me in REHAB all those months ago, they were so excited by a little wiggle in my knees and my whopping two word Swiss German vocabulary. By the next visit, I’d picked up a handful of words and could just barely lift my legs in the seated position. The third time they visited, they had to explain to Sandra (who usually translated between us) some of the Swiss German phrases I was using; they also witnessed with delight as I stood and took timid steps with the modified walker.
I was so encouraged by the chance to hear someone else talk about the wonder of watching my recovery over the past two years. Sometimes it’s hard to see my limitations now and remember the massive leaps ahead I’ve already made. My eyes are fixed ahead, but there’s value in remembering. It’s a balancing act, as always, in remembering where I’ve come from and forging ahead this new path. I’m full of eager anticipation of what is yet to come – awaiting the Savior who will transform my body to be like his glorious one (Phil 3:20-21). Oh, how I long to dance in that transformed body.
For now, I will celebrate the gift of holidays with second families – the Bonhams who adopted me for Christmas and let me be a part of their present opening tradition, the Lacostes who adopted me for second Christmas and shared with me their tradition of Fleisch Fondue (which is delicious), and the Stephens who brightened my day with just a short phone call. Thanks to the internet and telephones, I was able to wish my nephews a merry Christmas and talk briefly to my parents and grandparents over the last couple days, and I’m grateful for that as well. There’s more in my life to be grateful for than to complain about, so I’ll continue to be joyful regardless of the circumstances I can’t change. I’ll also keep diligently working on the circumstances I can change – I’m off to get some blood pumping while peddling on my stationary bike since walking in the cold outside triggers spasms.
