God is Awesome

I don’t remember falling.  Suddenly I was laying on the tile floor, the chai tea I had been carrying now covered the floor and my coat.  Dazed, I tried to understand what had happened.  

Diagnosed with glaucoma, my vision is impaired resulting in an inability to delineate edges like steps and curbs.  I’ve learned to be so careful in my world, cautiously approaching anything that looks like it might not be level.  I had just arrived to visit some friends.  It had been a while since I was in their home.  I did not remember there were two steps down into the living room.  The floor was all a light-colored tile and I saw no edges.  And so, I stepped off into nothing.  

As I lay there, I began checking out my body, starting with my hip.  At 80, a broken hip can cause dire consequences.  It seemed okay.  And the Apple Watch I had recently purchased for the express purpose of fall detection proved it did, indeed, detect falls.  It immediately asked if 911 needed to be called.  My friend canceled the call as he bent over to help me.  Assessing my injuries, it was decided I could endeavor to stand.  He placed his arms under my armpits and lifted me to my feet.  I could stand.  With assistance, I took a few steps.  Everything seemed to be working.  My knee and elbow were telling me that’s what I had landed on.  

Seated on the couch, I continued my assessment.  My friend cleaned my knee, doctored it and placed a rectangle bandage on it.  Discussion swirled about whether I should be taken to the Emergency Center less than a block away.  My age was mentioned again.  

As the minutes passed, I felt I was okay.  But I also wanted the assurance via x-ray that I had incurred no broken bones.  We cut our visit short, and I was taken to the Emergency Center.  Nothing broken.  My knee had received the brunt of the fall.  Instructions were given which included keeping that leg elevated.  They wrapped it in a bandage, and I was discharged. 

At home, my friend remained with me until it was determined I was okay to be alone.  

I told all of that as information to the rest of the story.  This is about far more than facts about me falling.  It’s about a God who cares about me.  When my mind finally understood I had fallen hard on a tile floor, I began to talk to God.  God, help me know what to do.  Give me wisdom in evaluating my injuries.  Touch any spots that may need your help.  In between talking with my friends, I continued my conversation with God.  Even before the x-rays showed no broken bones, I knew God had protected me in the fall.  It could have been so much worse; hitting my head, breaking my hip, or breaking my glasses and injuring my eyes.  

As I write these words, it’s been 48 hours since the fall.  I was told I would experience increasing pain for up to three days.  That’s just not happening.  Yes, I have some achy spots, but not bad enough to take something.  The first night I stayed in the recliner all night.  Last night I slept soundly in my bed until morning.  The only change was not being able to lay on my left side.  

My heart is so full of gratitude.  God is awesome.  

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”  1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)