I don’t have the same New Year miracle like I did last year, but in some ways, I think this New Year’s day was even better than last when I wiggled my toe for the first time. I spent the evening with some friends and laughed a lot as we ate raclette and waited for a reasonable time to go in to the cold Blumenplatz and watch drunk Germans set off dangerous fireworks. I’ll be honest, this year was much more terrifying than the previous two as there were considerably more of the large rockets were dropped and shot across the ground. Fortunately, we all survived the show and escaped burn free.
My friend Katrina helped wheel me home, and just before we got back to my apartment she asked me what my favorite New Year’s memory was. I answered pretty quickly that wiggling a toe for the first time last year because I’d been prayed over was probably the top of my list. Katrina replied that it had been a while since I’d been prayed over, and I told her I’d never turn it down. Once we got home, Katrina sat with me and had a conversation with the Lord thanking him for the good things he’s done this year and asking for a whole lot more. That felt like a pretty great way to start my year.
After several hours of sleep, I had the delight of tea with one of my former students who also prayed with me after enjoying conversation and a chance to catch up on each other’s lives. Alyssa was in my Bible class before my accident, so she saw me at what I considered the best of my teaching. I still struggle to see myself as as good of a teacher as I was pre-accident when it comes to certain professional abilities. However, when we prayed, Alyssa pointed out that while some people see me as incomplete in the wheelchair, I’m more complete now than I’ve ever been before. I can’t really stress how significant this realization was to me. This student knew me both before and after my accident, and she can see the change for good, the positive healing that is so much deeper, so much more important, than the physical. As I’ve asked for everything, the Lord has been gracious to give me healing of deep brokenness through this year.
I still want it all.
I’m still asking for miraculous healing – for returned muscle function in my legs, for renewed nerve function in my legs as well to eliminate the spasms, for restored bathroom functions. I want it all. I have received so much, and I see no reason to stop asking for more.
