As I mentioned previously, my MRI showed a problem with one of my discs. I will be seeing an orthopedic specialist tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) to hear what he thinks. However, I was in such extreme pain and so at the end of my rope Friday morning that I went to a chiropractor (twice) and then went back twice today.

Now there seem to be two general camps regarding chiropractors. The first is run for the hills, they are nothing but quacks. The second is they gave me back my life and if I was stranded on a desert island and had to choose between my dog and my chiropractor it would be see ya later Fido! I can’t say I’ve really been in the first camp, but considering I’ve been suffering with this situation off and on for say, oh, seven years and have never seen a chiropractor, you might get an inkling of my general fear of them.

Anyway, the chiro I went to has done an amazing job on me so far. It is actually a husband and wife team and the wife is working on getting me stabilized. After the first two visits on Friday I was in less pain over the weekend and able to basically stop taking the strong pain medications I had been on since my trip to the ER about a week earlier. After two visits today, I am able to sit at my computer and type to all of my new and old friends in the cyberworld with only very minimal discomfort. This morning I could get out of bed, walk around upright and not collapse in a heap on my bed. Yippee!!! You truly have no idea how much the small things mean until you experience them afresh.

Well, I’ve been keeping myself sane on my road to recovery a couple of different ways. First of all, yesterday was one of the best days of college basketball I have ever watched. I normally don’t advocate spending Sunday watching sports, but I was thankful for the diversion from my discomfort. The Illinois-Ohio State game was a classic, and I also really enjoyed the Duke-North Carolina game. (For those not in the know, I am a Michigan State grad and huge Big Ten person!) So I was thankful for college basketball yesterday and the opportunity to just rest on the couch with my ice pack.

Yesterday, I was also blessed by a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law from two years ago. It is a little paperback called “Promises, Praises and Prayers for Women”. I keep it in my nightstand and pulled it out to read a little bit before bed. Last night I turned to the section for “Difficult Days”. There were some Scriptures there and two quotes. I would like to share the quotes because they ministered to me so much.

God does not dispense strength and encouragement like a druggist fills your prescriptions. The Lord doesn’t promise to give us something to take so that we can handle our weary moments. He promises us Himself. That is all. And that is enough.
Chuck Swindoll

We should not be upset when unexpected and upsetting things happen. God in his wisdom means to make something of us which we have not yet attained, and He is dealing with us accordingly.
J. I. Packer

Although this verse was not listed on the pages of the book, the phrase that kept coming to me time and time again as I was laying there in bed so tired and discouraged was “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It kept ringing over and over again in my head “My grace is sufficient for you.” Not your husbandâ’s grace, not your friends’ grace, not your family’s grace, not your church’s grace – MY grace. GOD’S grace.

So that’s where I am. Trying to lean moment by moment on God’s grace. Trusting that His power will be made perfect in my weakness (and there has been plenty of that lately).

So this is the hymn that has been in my mind this evening.

He Giveth More Grace
By Annie J. Flint

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limits, His grace had no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men:
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men:
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!