My last appointment with the orthopedic doctor who first diagnosed me with my hip disability said that little had changed, as far as the deterioration of my hips because of their malformation.
Okay...enough big words. *wink*
The doctor did encourage me to lose weight--in order to decrease the pressure on my hips. He told me that losing five pounds, would doubly decrease the pressure on my hips. Not only would the pain decrease, but I would not need total hip replacements until even farther down the road.
...as usual, I'm getting ahead of myself.
When I was first diagnosed at age eleven, I was sent to physical therapy to be taught exercises to decrease the pain in my hips by strengthening the inflamed muscles surrounding my hip bones. I did them half heartedly, not daring to think that they would help...and quickly slacked off on them even after I finished P.T. Only recently have I researched and tried out certain exercises for my hips. When I typed that into Bing, I really didn't find much...but when I happened upon "Exercises for Glutes", I hit on something. Essentially, when you "work" your glutes, thighs, and pretty much your lower body, the muscles surrounding your hips are strengthened.
Since I got back into the "groove" of stretching and strengthening my hips, I've gained more flexibility, mobility and even just slightly decreased pain. So...why am I telling you all this? Its because as I've learned more about the physical aspect of my disability, I've also learned many heart-lessons.
We are not called to sit stagnant in our physical or spiritual life; we are called to get up, walk, trust and obey. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are not automatically perfect. Just like with exercising.
And for the record--this perfectionist just rewrote the previous sentence(s) three times so it would be the most clear.
Its one thing to "talk the talk", than "walk the walk." I don't know how many times my Mum's said that to me over the years...it takes work--hard work--to take the steps the Lord calls us to, daily...yes, minutely.
We have a choice every moment of every day, to stop and think before we open our mouths, and yes--to think positively, and with a Christ-like attitude. We also have a choice with what to do with our time. Its hard...God did NOT give us a certificate marked, "Debt paid--you're now entitled to a perfect life," when we accepted Him into our hearts. God said, "Debt is paid, chains are gone. I am now with you. We are no longer separated. I will always be with you, through every season of love, loss, pain, laughing, and crying. I am, who I am."
When Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples that He would leave them a Helper--meaning, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our conscience. We have a choice to listen to the Holy Spirit's divine "nudges" I like to call them, as well as God's still, small voice.
When we choose to obey, listen, think "What would Jesus do?" before we speak, and look at the difficult people in our lives with Jesus' eyes of compassion...we are stretching and strengthening our new souls in Christ, rather than indulging our old sinful nature. Until we reach heaven, we will never be perfect. We will fail, slip up and still sin.
But there is God's grace, and the Holy Spirit's help to pick us up and continue to stretch us, and strengthen us, spiritually. I still cannot fathom it; I honestly think our finite minds cannot understand that. And sometimes, the lessons and sinful habits that are pruned off of our hearts, are so, so painful. Just like exercising. After I do a twenty minute lower-body work out, I feel it for a day or two...even if I just sit down! But I know that it is helping in the long run.
I had to close with this picture below just for laughs.
1 comment:
Good thoughts.
Would hoop dancing help you exercise your hips and legs or would it cause you more pain? It's the most fun form of exercise I have found and if you keep with it (and eat right) you will also slim down.
(Not sure what I mean? www.hoopnotica.com)
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