Thanks for the kindness yesterday...and if you missed it, go back and check out the story. It will help today's post make a lot more sense!
I shared yesterday that I was bitten by a dog on Friday, and one of the things I am most thankful for is that he got my non-dominant hand. While the injury has slowed me down, it hasn't slowed me down nearly as much as it would have if it had been the other hand!
But I told Ryan this the day after it happened. I never realized how much I use that little part of my hand every day.
The worst part of the bite hit the palm side of my hand, just under the index finger. I don't know what muscles or tendons or whatever are located there, but hear me on this: they matter.
The day after the incident, I wore jeans, and with every bathroom break, I was reminded that the injured part of my hand is key in buttoning jeans. I had no idea. But it is.
It's also where I hold a medicine bottle to twist the cap with my other hand. (Medicine bottles are my friends these days.)
I use it to lift dishes from the oven.
I use it to brace my makeup while I pop the lid open.
You get the idea.
And then I happened to think...what if this had happened the weekend before, when we were watching our little buddy? All that picking him up? Changing his diaper? Working the buckles and clips on his seat belt? Dressing him? Chasing him?
Oh yes. That little corner of my hand is much busier than I ever knew.
It immediately reminded me of the verses in the Bible that talk about how the Body of Christ is made up of many different parts, and each one is important for the job it has to do. One part can't tell another part that it doesn't matter because it's different. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
This week, with this injury, I became acutely aware of a very important body part that I didn't even recognize as important for the first 43 years of my life. But let me tell you: it matters, and it works hard every single day. I recognize that now. It took a dog bite for me to realize it, but I see it now!
It also reminded me to pay attention to the people around me who might feel like they matter about as much as a little corner of a non-dominant palm. Ever feel like that? I have.
But even corners of palms matter. So very much. And you matter. So very much. I hope you hear it today. I want you to know it.
You matter. And I'm thankful you're here.
3 comments:
I'm thankful that my coworkers make me feel that I matter.
It is truly amazing how something like this teaches us how much more we have to be grateful for.
I'm so sorry that you're learning the hard way how important this piece of you is but thank you for sharing the larger lesson with us. Sometimes it's hard to remember that we too matter.
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