The 36 Year Journey

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Overwhelmed! The feeling I got when my precious prosthetics got a hole. They tore the same spot every time. Sometimes they tore quickly and sometimes they tore well into the "every two years" cycle of getting new ones. I was overwhelmed because I couldn't wear shoes or walk without them. I was overwhelmed fighting insurance to justify another pair for $22K, beg my prosthetic man to repair the old ones and endure even more pain than usual. Psalm 61:2 says "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." I cried to God many times when my heart was overwhelmed and he knew if I didn't have the prosthetics it'd be impossible for me to stand on a rock. That's kind of a joke and kinda not. God knows your needs and your situation!

So many times our hearts become overwhelmed and we cry to God. We want rescued but maybe not led. We want helped but maybe not guided. We forget God is higher than us. We may consider him a peer, a "bounce it off of" guy or a "fairy god father". Psalm 25:5 says "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." It's not easy to wait on God and sometimes the day is extremely long.

It was my pleasure to speak with a Scottish Rite Mason this week. I shared how God led me to various entities starting with Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. They suggested McMahan Shoes. McMahan Shoes suggested Lifelike Laboratories in Dallas, TX and I don't even remember how God led me to Young Prosthetics in Memphis, TN. The moral of the story is; today, after a 36-year journey, Steve and I made the set of prots in the pic! Praise Jesus! They are the most comfortable set of feet I've ever had and they cost about $300 a pair!

What if I had given up or turned around on the journey? It wasn't month-after-month of smooth sailing either. I've encountered storms, obstacles and nightmares enough to scare the bravest souls. You just gotta keep being led by the God of your salvation. Are you overwhelmed? Cry to Jesus, follow his lead and wait!

Overwhelmed in a good way,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Comments

  1. So encouraging from someone who seems overwhelmed ALL the time! Love you Tammy and your encouraging words!!!

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    1. Thanks Denise! I want to stay overwhelmed in a good way, don't you? You're such a sweet one...love you! It makes me so happy to read your comments!!!!

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  2. My name is Brenda. I was in a lawnmower accident 44 yrs ago and had 1/2 of my right foot taken off. I have worn a prosthetic since then. Some short, some tall, some with Velcro straps up my leg, zippers, laces and never have I had one that was comfortable. Now the doctor is telling me due to the fact of how my prosthetics were made I have muscle and bone deteriation, my achillies tendon has to be cut and shortened so that my foot will not continue to push it's self down and sideways. I have bone spurs and deep callusus caused from the prosthetics and pressure points that makes it impossible for me to walk sometimes. the doctor has after x-rays, nerve shots and callus removal has decided that if the cutting of the achillis tendon does not work like it needs to that he is going to remove my leg either below or above the knee. To be honest I am so sick of the pain of trying to walk maybe this would be my best option but I am really kinda scared. I know I can adjust always have been able to but still kinda scared.

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    1. Brenda,
      Hi! Have you tried a silicone prosthetic? Mine are very comfortable and can be adjusted for problem areas when making them. That's one if my biggest fears is having an amputation so I understand how you feel. I have done everything I can to avoid that. If you haven't tried silicone I'd be happy to talk to you about it. 706-280-2932

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