Back to the Suture
Brandy and I are daily being sanctified, but this week the sanctification begins in earnest.
After about seven months of Brandy having back/leg pain and after exhausting all other options, his doctor scheduled surgery for Tuesday, which is really good news. We feel like the end might be in sight. The one bump in the road (this is where the sanctification part comes in) is the recovery period. Brandy will have to be home from work for three weeks, won’t be able to lift anything heavier than a one-liter bottle of milk, may not be able to drive for six weeks, and will have to be fed grapes and fanned all day. (OK, that last part isn't true.)
What was my reaction when Brandy called me on Thursday to tell me about the surgery? Did I ask about the procedure, the doctor, the risks, etc.? Nope. I asked, “Are you sure he said three weeks?"
After all, I continued, "Doesn't your doctor realize that what you do at work really isn't that much different from what you would be doing at home? I mean, at work you stand up at your computer and don’t really lift anything." Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, he loves me, and we enjoy being together. But three weeks – that's 30,240 minutes – is a long time no matter how you slice it. I think the worst part for Brandy is that he will have to miss the first OU game of the season. He and Lincoln have been to all 43 home games since Bob Stoops arrived (actually, they've been to more than that – they hardly missed any games in the Blake or Schnellenberger years – but my journalist husband will only count those games he can document with a ticket stub). Now, sadly, their streak will be over. Not to worry about Lincoln, though. I’ll take him to that first game. His streak is alive and well.
So, things may be a little tough for a few weeks, but even with the long recovery period we are grateful. Grateful for the surgery, grateful for the doctor (who, ironically enough, is the OU team physician), grateful that Brandy’s parents are coming to watch the kids, grateful that we have such great kids who will be a big help when he gets home, grateful that it’s “only” back surgery, grateful for our friends and our church, grateful that God is sovereign, and grateful that He is proactively out for our good and for the peace that brings.
After about seven months of Brandy having back/leg pain and after exhausting all other options, his doctor scheduled surgery for Tuesday, which is really good news. We feel like the end might be in sight. The one bump in the road (this is where the sanctification part comes in) is the recovery period. Brandy will have to be home from work for three weeks, won’t be able to lift anything heavier than a one-liter bottle of milk, may not be able to drive for six weeks, and will have to be fed grapes and fanned all day. (OK, that last part isn't true.)
What was my reaction when Brandy called me on Thursday to tell me about the surgery? Did I ask about the procedure, the doctor, the risks, etc.? Nope. I asked, “Are you sure he said three weeks?"
After all, I continued, "Doesn't your doctor realize that what you do at work really isn't that much different from what you would be doing at home? I mean, at work you stand up at your computer and don’t really lift anything." Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, he loves me, and we enjoy being together. But three weeks – that's 30,240 minutes – is a long time no matter how you slice it. I think the worst part for Brandy is that he will have to miss the first OU game of the season. He and Lincoln have been to all 43 home games since Bob Stoops arrived (actually, they've been to more than that – they hardly missed any games in the Blake or Schnellenberger years – but my journalist husband will only count those games he can document with a ticket stub). Now, sadly, their streak will be over. Not to worry about Lincoln, though. I’ll take him to that first game. His streak is alive and well.
So, things may be a little tough for a few weeks, but even with the long recovery period we are grateful. Grateful for the surgery, grateful for the doctor (who, ironically enough, is the OU team physician), grateful that Brandy’s parents are coming to watch the kids, grateful that we have such great kids who will be a big help when he gets home, grateful that it’s “only” back surgery, grateful for our friends and our church, grateful that God is sovereign, and grateful that He is proactively out for our good and for the peace that brings.
