30 Days of Thanks - Day 9

Unless something notably different happens over the next 4 days to be thankful for, I'll will blog about four separate blessings that all have something in common.  These are all things that I've actually complained about, despite each one being a gift.    

Today I'm thankful that:

I am able-bodied.

I watched Extreme Home Makeover last night where two family members were confined to wheel chairs. Despite James Terpenning having no use of his legs as the result of being stricken with polio as an infant, he is a decorated athlete with two gold medals from the Paralympics. He's also a father of four and a big brother to Joe, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.  James doesn't use the part of his body that doesn't work as an excuse to not try at all.  Quite the opposite ... he went scuba diving during the episode and constantly mentioned being a role model to his kids so as they watched their dad, they would know that they too can do anything they set their minds to. James doesn't allow what he doesn't have to negatively impact what he does have. He is right in there helping to raise his family and he has touched a community of people. James even brought his brother Joe home to live with them.

Yes, I've struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, and yes, I have some back and joint issues. I've complained about my body and each challenge that I've allowed to effect my attitude. I've complained about how my body looks and I've complained about how my body feels.  Sometimes my body is in pain or uncomfortable, yet I am so fortunate to be able to move my head from left to right and lift my arms. From the simplest movements, to driving a car.  

I'm not limited by amputation, blindness, paralysis, deafness or deformity. Yet, I've allowed each body ache to taint my perspective at times and let each annoyance convince me that they will, without a doubt, hinder my abilities. I can walk, hike, run, laugh, communicate, smile, swim, bowl, move furniture, type, pick up a pen and write, mount a horse, mow the lawn, work in my garden, hold a baby, read a book, or hear rushing water or emergency sirens.  Depending on the disability or disease, many people can't do some or all of these things.

How dare I complain about this body when it can do so much. My body is functional, is God's creation and deserves my respect. There are people with less physical abilities than I, that intentionally don't acknowledge the "dis" in their abilities. They don't let what they can't do define them or limit what they can do.  They find a different way to get things done and are thankful for what they have.  

I am thankful for and humbled by their example. And I am thankful for my functioning, able body.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.