Tree Wins!!

So what I have learned this week? I have to start back and work my way up to the lesson. I did something stupid. No, I did not try a triple somersault on a snowboard in the Rockies. Unfortunately it isn’t that good. It begins with a big storm we had here a couple of weeks ago. Turns out that we had a little tornado in Allen. Winds were powerful. We have 2 Bradford pair trees and the storm took one down and weakened the other one. As we were cleaning up and taking the remaining parts of the tree down, I carelessly found myself lying underneath the trunk of one of the trees. I was keenly aware of the exact moment that I thought, "It's about time I learn a lesson about physics and biology and all those other subjects that I didn’t do so well with in high school."

Well, I was blessed to not have any broken bones and live to tell my story if I dare. I was trying to save our home as the tree began to fall in the opposite direction than it was cut to fall; a gust of wind came and pushed it towards the house. All I could see was that there was a good chance that that huge tree would take out the windows to our home. So, overestimating my strength, I tried to encourage the tree to fall another way. I know, dumb. I found myself on the ground in great pain after the tree had graciously slammed me there. Fortunately, the weight of the tree was on my thigh, which means the padding of fat cushion the impact!  So what was the damage? Pain, but I couldn’t let anyone know at that time. Our front yard was covered in tree and a car drives up and sees me on the ground. They quickly step out of the car and say, “Is she okay?” I say to Kelly and Andrew, “Just pretend everything is okay” and I sit up and smile. Then being much shaken up, my choices still lack wisdom. I get up and hobble into the house, by myself, saying I am fine while trying not to pass out from the pain. Somehow I made it to the bed with Andrew and dad right behind me. They gave me a blessing and took good care of me the rest of the night. They wanted me to go to the emergency room, but I am not one to do that if I think I can get away with it. So we didn’t go.

I made it through the night but the swelling on my leg was now gigantic. I was sure no bones were broken but Andrew and dad weren’t so sure and convinces me that it wouldn’t hurt to go see the doctor, so I did. I think the doctor was a little surprised when I revealed my battle scar. Bruising had just begun but the swelling was quite a site!! Talk about “saddle bags”!! He affirmed that I would indeed live to tell the heroic event of woman against nature and have the war injuries and pain to support my story for quite a little while!!

He was right about the pain. I am in pain. I've been in pain all day. Last night, I was in "more pain", which is pain multiplied by pain, divided by relief, then multiplied by pain to the tenth power. In case you are not a math whiz that equals pain with 33 zeros after it. A few days ago, I was in pain (just regular pain, no zeros). Okay, it doesn’t really hurt that much but adds to the story.

So what have I learned? After all, what good are our experiences if we don’t learn from them?

First, don’t get injured. The simplest of all rules avoid injury. This was my first mistake. I am not stronger than a falling tree under any circumstances.

Second, schedule your injury. Kelly and I had thought about going camping this weekend, but that didn’t happen. I should have planned better.

Third, parallel your injury during a good weekend of TV. The one good thing about being injured is the lazy factor. You shouldn't feel guilty for lying around, watching TV all day because it beats the alternative of doing chores and making your injury worse, but I am not patient and I don’t enjoy lying around watching TV so the least I could have done is waited for some good movies to be on before going down. Good thing I like to read!

Fourth, plan to heal quickly. My injured area will take awhile to properly heal, but I don’t want to wait that long so I plan on a quick recovery.

The fifth and last lesson is that pain brings you to humility!

While I was lying in bed with limited physical activity restricted by intense pain if I moved the wrong way, I began to ponder (because there was no good TV) about pain and what I could learn from my experience and began to comprehend pain a little better. I thought of the pain experienced by our Savior Jesus Christ, not only the acute and excruciating physical pain as He was lifted upon the cross, but also the chronic, agonizing, anguishing pain caused by the disobedience of mankind. My pain was nothing compared to what He suffered. Pondering the things of the Lord—brings about a tremendous feeling of gratitude for our Savior and for the life and blessings He has given us. Through my pain, I have stopped and remembered what my Savior has done for me. Just as he knows the pains of my heart, he also knows the physical pain I have.

I know that this little taste of pain reminds me and helps me understand what so many live with daily. Pain, whether physical, emotionally or spiritual is not an easy thing to have, but an opportunity to increase in wisdom.

Though I don’t like not being able to freely move about with ease, it has given me time to read and to think about the importance of my well being and the every day need for exercise and good nutritional food. Of course it is always easier to think about how you will change when you get better, but will I do it? I hope so. I don’t like to be restricted by my body if I don’t have to be!

That’s my little story. Now I have to rest as I didn’t sleep well last night. Though the aches and pains were part of the problem, the bigger problem was waking up to my snoring. Oh brother, now that is painful. Me snoring!! Ugh!