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When life gives you an eyepatch, become a pirate.*
Er…maybe I should back up and explain.
Several weeks ago, my stepmom Kristin had a bit of an accident that led to problems with one of her ocular nerves. (Yes, the eyes have nerves.) The accident also led to vertigo (dizziness and seeing double). Anyway, the end result of all of this was that Kristin’s eye nerve needed strengthening.
Enter the eyepatch.
Yes, the doctor recommended she wear an eyepatch until her eye gets better—and said that it could be anywhere from three to six months before there’s improvement.
OK, folks, I’m just saying, if this was me, I might be tempted to hole up in my house, sending my social life to a grinding halt. Perhaps I’m vain (the song is playing in my head…you’re so vain…) or maybe just self-conscious, but I would dread people staring at me. Not to mention how frustrating it would be to have to deal with only having the use of one eye most of the time.
But you know what my stepmom did?
She got a pink-studded eyepatch.
Yes, she owned it. Embraced it. Figured she might as well have fun with it.
Not only that, she’s tried a variety of other methods of strengthening her eye, including painting one side of her glasses with fingernail polish and only wearing one contact lens.
She’s making the best of her situation. Not letting it get her down. “Life’s too short to mope,” she says. She realizes that her life can’t be put on hold just because she’s got this physical issue going on. She’s a physical therapy assistant and has patients to help, patients who have worse ailments than her.
She’s living out what apostle Paul said in Philippians: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
So what are some of those secrets of being content? Come back Wednesday, when we’ll explore that topic together.
Your Turn: Have you ever faced a situation that made it hard to be content? Tell me about it.
*Please note that I am in no way, shape, or form encouraging anyone to become a pillager and thief. It’s a metaphor, people. A metaphor.
Your stepmom is inspiring. I love that verse from the Apostle Paul.. It's so much easier in theory than in practice to be content in all situations, but a wise perspective, to be sure! Definitely something to strive for! 🙂
I know, Barb…so much easier to talk about than live out. But God helps us even in that!
Oh I love it! I definitely think one of the secrets of being content is being grateful for what you do have…and it sounds lIke that's exactly what your stepmom is doing!
I'll be talking about this more on Wednesday, Mel, but definitely…perspective.
Give your mom a hug for me, please.
I have had vertigo since last May — not going to bother stopping to count how long that's been. Yeah. No fun. It's waning, but it's still here. At times, I couldn't put on mascara without the world tilting. At times I couldn't lift my head up off the floor (and, yes, I was on the floor at the time.)
Unfortunately, the docs never suggested an eye patch.
😉
While I might not embrace vertigo (I don't want to invite it to permanently live here!), I've told God that a) I know he could take it away and b) since he hasn't, I know he will help me accept it and deal with it with grace — and a sense of humor. Both are needed.
Oh, Beth, that doesn't sound fun at all! Not at all. Yes, laughter. Another thing I'll be addressing on Wed.
How funny! She's very clever…and positive!
I used to see the glass half empty, but being married to Mr. Optimistic has helped me view things differently. I have learned to be content.
Having the ability to exercise taken away from me back in 1994-1995 helped me learn to appreciate things. When I was finally able to run again (in summer of 1996) I promised the Lord I would NEVER take exercise for granted again. And I haven't.
Running a 10K this Saturday for cancer research, I was surrounded by cancer survivors. Want to talk about motivating?! I passed a woman who was walking the race on crutches because she had her leg amputated at the hip. She had the BEST smile! I gave her the thumbs up and ran even faster because of her.
So, make lemonade with those lemons! Your stepmom understands that!
That's so cool, Ruth. It's so inspiring to watch others go through something with a smile. My mom never complained. Not once. That completely amazed me.
Oh my gosh! I laughed so hard I had tears in both eyes when I saw that picture. You are too funny! I do have a varied assortment of eye patches, along with regular glasses that have new colors of nail polish weekly. 🙂
Beth, I work all the time with patients with vertigo and I have some ways to help alleviate it. If you want to contact me, ask Lindsay for my phone number and I will be glad to come over and see what I can do to help. Vertigo is not fun, It was a short term symptom of mine when I fell. I'm glad it's gone.
So glad you enjoyed the pic! 🙂 Not what you look like at all, but I just thought the grin/grimace was hilarious…
And Beth would love for you to come over, though she lives in another state…so that will be a long trek driving with your eyepatch. Ha. 😛
Oh yes, I've definitely faced a tough situation like that. (Although my handicap was much more hidden than an eyepatch. :)) I love your stepmom's spirit! Very inspiring.
It can be hard to be content even when the handicap is hidden, can't it? And I love to hear inspiring stories, which is one reason I shared Kristin's. 🙂
"When life gives you an eyepatch, become a pirate."
This quote stopped me in my tracks. It is priceless. For life. Thanks so much for this post!
A moment of inspiration. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting!
What a great quote. I think I'll adopt it.
My boyfriend in college put out a dorm fire and got dry ice in his eye. He had to wear an eye patch. He drew an eye on the white gauze patch and wore it shamelessly.
I felt the shame.
LOL Love your analogy, Lindsay. Great post!
Jessica, my Bible Study leader told me to do the same thing. I actually considered it. I just got lazy. Personally, I think the the more you embrace it with silliness and humor the less people worry about it. When I broke my wrist, I put bling all over the pink cast. My patients loved it. (There's a reason I'm in physical therapy.)
Wow, that's hi.la.rious! I love that YOU felt the shame and he didn't…bwahaha.