A little over a year ago I had hip surgery. I had been going through all the medical tests you could think of and was in constant pain for 9 months. I want to express how grateful I am, not only for the fact that I can walk again, but also for the pain. I believe God gave me that experience so that I would know how it feels and then gave me my strength back so I could understand a little of what others go through.
I have three beautiful, miraculous angels in my life that I call sisters. (My brothers are great too, but they'll get their own tribute some other day.)
Mary lost her chance at the finals in a big tournament in high school because she messed up her ankle. She had countless doctor visits to fix her ankle, but after a long, grueling recovery, she can now walk and play with her wonderful kids. I saw how she was incredibly tough in her recovery and I always admired how she dealt with the pain and worked through it, especially with two younger siblings that always accidentally bumped her.
Lindsay has been through so much I can't even understand and has had problems with stress fractures, taking away her ability to run. She taught me how to run when I was a little girl and how to keep pace so I wouldn't lose my breath. I remember supporting her during a run after she had beaten back her cancer again. She was a little disappointed that she had run so slow, but she just looked so beautiful and I was so proud. Lindsay has always been an example of perseverance and faith in the face of overwhelming trials. I love her so much for that, because without her example, I don't think I could have made it through my own pain and surgery.
Jaymie has had so many medical problems and injuries that I can't even keep track of them. And yet, when she can't find a silver lining, she makes one. She decorates her casts, crutches, wheelchair, and leg brace with bright colours and sparkles. Whenever I call her or see her she is smiling, laughing, telling jokes, and being overly flirtatious with her husband, even when you know how much pain she is in. Whenever I was/am discouraged, I could/can talk to her and she will brighten my day. It's one of her many talents. She keeps pressing forward.
I love them so much for the rock solid examples they have been for me. I don't think I truly understood how great they were until I suffered a fraction of similar pain.
I don't know why I can run now. I don't know why Mary and I were healed and they still have to suffer. But I do know that God's love doesn't mean that we get an easy solution every time. We might not always be physically healed every time, but we can still be whole, valuable, and fantastic wives/sisters/mothers/people.
