So, isn't getting out to share the whole reason why I am here?
Well...let me reflect on some blessings of the broken foot for a moment.
My kids are super and are great helpers. They have stepped up to help far more than I have been calling on them to do since our return here and certainly more than they did in the states. William and Mariama have done tons of chores, including making dinners and washing dishes. Lydia-Ann has even been a big helper in various chores as well as serving me water. I already knew I had great kids, but I have been able to appreciate them at a whole new level.
Speaking of my kids, I have had time to just spend time with them, when I might have tried to do something else. I played more with Lydia-Ann in those first few days than I have in a long time. I have taken the time to watch shows and movies with the kids that I generally do not do. I have had the opportunity to show love to my children through quality time at a new level.
My neighbors who hear about my foot have come to visit me. What a treat! I just do not get many visits on a regular basis. Some are friends who might come by occasionally, but they have come by more often knowing I cannot come to see them. Some are people who have never come to see me. Wow! Could these be open doors? Maybe. I will need to be seeking out answers to that question.
My husband is awesome! I already knew that! However, he has shown his love and care for me at a new level. Cooking and taking care of the kids so that I can get out has been a pattern for him, but really taking care of me has not always been necessary. It is not something that just I see, but I know my kids are seeing it too. In addition those seeing our family interact are seeing the witness. I have had the chance to see my friend who is in a difficult marriage. Her husband continues to tire her, as she says. I pray with her daily and she has felt the effects in her heart of my prayers. This friend has seen me at some of my very worst moments, so she is under no illusion that I am perfect. I am trying to live a life that blesses. Due to the witness of our marriage and the effects of prayer with her, she has expressed a strong desire to study the Good News once I am recovered and able to do more.
Wow! That is what I came here to do, to share as I am going, or not going as the case may be.
About Me
- Lisa
- Hello, I am a mother of three living with my husband in Africa. I have been blogging for seven years but still find myself very technologically challenged. I make lots of mistakes, but life is a journey. Come join me on the journey!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Perils of a Broken Foot
This post will be followed by a blessings post, so if it gets a little too whiny, just go to the next post.
How did I brake my foot?
Well, I tripped while walking in platform flip-flops at the market.
Why would I wear those flip-flops?
Well, in those I could step into puddles in the road without getting water on the top where my feet rested. While I have good, sturdy Chacos, I just do not like wet feet, especially with yucky water.
Was I running?
No oddly enough, I was just trying to cross the street, however I was trying to be quick about it, because crossing the market street is like playing Frogger. However, most people know I do not have a slow speed, so it is generally fast and faster.
So with all of this, I think how crazy it was that my outer foot bone fractured just while I crossed the street. How much of an idiot am I to do such a thing? (No comments from the peanut gallery please.)
Frustrations just pile up! I want to bake and have really enjoyed doing so lately. Well, not much hope of that happening, because my foot is supposed to be propped up. Kind of hard to prop it up and still stand in the kit hen long enough to mix something from scratch.
While I am talking about the baking, frustrating to not be able to take care of my family by providing them with good, healthy food. My grandmother took care of her family with food and lots of it. I am not to her level yet, but I do serve my family in this way. So not only am I not able to do something I enjoy doing, I am not able to show love to my family in this way.
I am much more of a doer. I see that something needs to be done and do it. I don't call for someone to take care of it. I am even guilty of picking something up that belongs to the kids, because it would be quicker for me to just do it myself. Well, that does not work so well when you are propped up and are using crutches even when you are moving. I hate feeling like I am bossing people around. My loving husband had all of his work and home responsibilities, and I was having to give him mine as well. If he was taking care of business, but it was time for the kids to eat, I would have to call for him to stop what he was doing. The first weekend after returning with the cast, I did way too much because I just saw and did. My husband, even after all these years, thinks I would actually say I need help or admit I cannot do something. (Heehee! You would think he would know me better.) Instead, I did too much and my foot swelled and was in pain. I got in trouble with him for not telling him what I needed.
So not only am I restricted by what I can do around the house, I am basically restricted to my house. There is no such thing as sidewalks here, so I cannot get out. I have enough trouble walking with these crutches in the house, much less try to walk through the dirt road outside. It gets lonely because I want to be out. I want to visit my neighbors. I want to go places without having my husband drive me. I want to go dump the trash. I had an occasion yesterday to take the kids to the pool for a play date. I could not drive myself, so my husband had to take me. Unfortunately, he also had a meeting at the same time. We moved the meeting so he would not be alone with the woman with whom he was meeting, and I could still have my ride. However, that was not a great idea and their meeting got more interrupted than I would have liked. I will not be doing that again for a few weeks.
I like visiting my neighbors. I like being out among the people. I like going to pray with my sisters in the faith. Not getting out to do those things is driving me crazy. I like going out to share. Isn't that what I came here to do?
How did I brake my foot?
Well, I tripped while walking in platform flip-flops at the market.
Why would I wear those flip-flops?
Well, in those I could step into puddles in the road without getting water on the top where my feet rested. While I have good, sturdy Chacos, I just do not like wet feet, especially with yucky water.
Was I running?
No oddly enough, I was just trying to cross the street, however I was trying to be quick about it, because crossing the market street is like playing Frogger. However, most people know I do not have a slow speed, so it is generally fast and faster.
So with all of this, I think how crazy it was that my outer foot bone fractured just while I crossed the street. How much of an idiot am I to do such a thing? (No comments from the peanut gallery please.)
Frustrations just pile up! I want to bake and have really enjoyed doing so lately. Well, not much hope of that happening, because my foot is supposed to be propped up. Kind of hard to prop it up and still stand in the kit hen long enough to mix something from scratch.
While I am talking about the baking, frustrating to not be able to take care of my family by providing them with good, healthy food. My grandmother took care of her family with food and lots of it. I am not to her level yet, but I do serve my family in this way. So not only am I not able to do something I enjoy doing, I am not able to show love to my family in this way.
I am much more of a doer. I see that something needs to be done and do it. I don't call for someone to take care of it. I am even guilty of picking something up that belongs to the kids, because it would be quicker for me to just do it myself. Well, that does not work so well when you are propped up and are using crutches even when you are moving. I hate feeling like I am bossing people around. My loving husband had all of his work and home responsibilities, and I was having to give him mine as well. If he was taking care of business, but it was time for the kids to eat, I would have to call for him to stop what he was doing. The first weekend after returning with the cast, I did way too much because I just saw and did. My husband, even after all these years, thinks I would actually say I need help or admit I cannot do something. (Heehee! You would think he would know me better.) Instead, I did too much and my foot swelled and was in pain. I got in trouble with him for not telling him what I needed.
So not only am I restricted by what I can do around the house, I am basically restricted to my house. There is no such thing as sidewalks here, so I cannot get out. I have enough trouble walking with these crutches in the house, much less try to walk through the dirt road outside. It gets lonely because I want to be out. I want to visit my neighbors. I want to go places without having my husband drive me. I want to go dump the trash. I had an occasion yesterday to take the kids to the pool for a play date. I could not drive myself, so my husband had to take me. Unfortunately, he also had a meeting at the same time. We moved the meeting so he would not be alone with the woman with whom he was meeting, and I could still have my ride. However, that was not a great idea and their meeting got more interrupted than I would have liked. I will not be doing that again for a few weeks.
I like visiting my neighbors. I like being out among the people. I like going to pray with my sisters in the faith. Not getting out to do those things is driving me crazy. I like going out to share. Isn't that what I came here to do?
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
What Culture do You Live In?
I am proud to be an American. I am, even with all the conflict these days, I am proud of our American heritage. I am blessed with an education to which many around the world do not have access. I am blessed to be related to many military, some of who have died for their country or come back forever changed by their experiences. I have been blessed with freedom to seek God and follow the route He has laid out for me. I am blessed to have a husband who pursued me, rather than a marriage that was arranged for me. I am blessed with an independent and adventurous spirit. I love different kinds of clothes: dresses and heels; shorts and tank tops with sandals; and jeans with boots. I still think our republic for the people and by the people is the best government out there, even if I do not agree with a lot of things that have gone on lately, but even being able to say I disagree is an American freedom.
However, I live among a people that would be thrilled to make in a year what most Americans make in a week. They must choose which books they will have that year for school because they cannot afford them all and the schools do not loan them out for the year. However, this culture values people. You would not dare pass someone without greeting them, especially if you make eye contact with them. Even if you are late for something, you still greet and ask about one's family and everyone's health. They take time to drink tea together. The women traditionally dress in a way as to show respect for their husband, that their body is not for the world but their husband alone. The women cover their heads if they are married, and other men respect that. Here the people do not hesitate to discipline their neighbors' children or at least take the child to their parent. Here they respect their elders and care for them. Here your neighbors are your first family, not just the family you are related to by blood.
Every culture has its aspects that are good, bad, and indifferent. We have to look at the culture in which we live in light of the Good News. Some of my American-ness is good, but some of it is not. Some of my host culture is good, but some of it is not. As followers of the Way, we must be focused on the Good News culture. Will it be awkward and hard sometimes? Sure. Is it what we are called to do as brothers and sisters? Yep. Just because my culture says it is ok to say or do something does not necessarily mean that I should. Let us be salt and light wherever we are today.
However, I live among a people that would be thrilled to make in a year what most Americans make in a week. They must choose which books they will have that year for school because they cannot afford them all and the schools do not loan them out for the year. However, this culture values people. You would not dare pass someone without greeting them, especially if you make eye contact with them. Even if you are late for something, you still greet and ask about one's family and everyone's health. They take time to drink tea together. The women traditionally dress in a way as to show respect for their husband, that their body is not for the world but their husband alone. The women cover their heads if they are married, and other men respect that. Here the people do not hesitate to discipline their neighbors' children or at least take the child to their parent. Here they respect their elders and care for them. Here your neighbors are your first family, not just the family you are related to by blood.
Every culture has its aspects that are good, bad, and indifferent. We have to look at the culture in which we live in light of the Good News. Some of my American-ness is good, but some of it is not. Some of my host culture is good, but some of it is not. As followers of the Way, we must be focused on the Good News culture. Will it be awkward and hard sometimes? Sure. Is it what we are called to do as brothers and sisters? Yep. Just because my culture says it is ok to say or do something does not necessarily mean that I should. Let us be salt and light wherever we are today.
Remembering the Dead
Everyone has had a loved one die. Most of us remember the loved one. We remember them to differing degrees. It depended on how close we were to the individual or how old we were at the time. A wife may particularly remember the last time she said, "I love you," to her husband before he died. A mother may remember the first and last times she held her child.
In the culture within which we live, it is a bit weightier than that. A sacrifice is offered up when the person dies in order to ask for God to extend the hand of peace to the loved one. It is repeated again forty days after the death to ask for welcoming on behalf of the dead, if the family is able to afford to do so.
For those who are really wealthy, they will continue to offer a sacrifice on the yearly anniversary of the loved one's death. These sacrifices are two-fold in nature. On one hand, they continue to pray that the loved one will be given entrance into paradise, if they have not been admitted already. Secondly, the prayers request graciousness and mercy to be given to those who continue to remember their dead loved ones.
Having had loved ones die, I still remember them. I remember the fun times. For my brother, I remember my last moments with him, even 21 years later. However, I have peace knowing in whom they trusted. I know the One who told the thief, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." So glad I know the Author of grace and peace and need not go through my ancestors to plead for these gifts. There is a way to have assurance of eternity. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no ones comes to the Father but through me." Resting in His grace!
In the culture within which we live, it is a bit weightier than that. A sacrifice is offered up when the person dies in order to ask for God to extend the hand of peace to the loved one. It is repeated again forty days after the death to ask for welcoming on behalf of the dead, if the family is able to afford to do so.
For those who are really wealthy, they will continue to offer a sacrifice on the yearly anniversary of the loved one's death. These sacrifices are two-fold in nature. On one hand, they continue to pray that the loved one will be given entrance into paradise, if they have not been admitted already. Secondly, the prayers request graciousness and mercy to be given to those who continue to remember their dead loved ones.
Having had loved ones die, I still remember them. I remember the fun times. For my brother, I remember my last moments with him, even 21 years later. However, I have peace knowing in whom they trusted. I know the One who told the thief, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." So glad I know the Author of grace and peace and need not go through my ancestors to plead for these gifts. There is a way to have assurance of eternity. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no ones comes to the Father but through me." Resting in His grace!
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