Back in early spring I was popping my various joints while sitting on my bed. For some reason I decided to pop my left foot on the outside. There was a rather unpleasant sound and a discomfort that followed. Nothing critical, just a feeling that that wasn't a good idea.
After that event, when I would first wake up in the morning my left foot would ache for a few steps, but the pain never lingered. If I napped or sat funny in a chair, my foot would hurt but again nothing serious. I went to see my Dr in May and mentioned this foot pain and the Dr said I should do some stretches but not to bother going to a foot doctor unless it is really uncomfortable. So basically all of 2021 my foot had this annoying pain in it.
On the day I set up my Christmas tree, I was sitting criss-cross applesauce on the ground. I pushed myself up with my feet and I felt a 'pop' in my left foot. I thought that was interesting but wasn't too sure what that was all about. I kind of thought maybe I had finally broke whatever little bone it was all the way, but it didn't really hurt, so it was a kind of mystery. The next morning when I got out of bed my foot did not hurt. I actually didn't even notice until a day or two later when I thought, 'Hey, my foot doesn't hurt anymore!' What had happened was that I had moved a joint out of place; what I needed to do was to see a chiropractor, but instead I just endured a long year of discomfort until it finally resolved itself (thank you, Jesus!).
This was an object lesson for me which I have endured simultaneously with other very difficult trials. 2021 has been the most emotionally difficult year of my life, and I've had some hard years! I have leaned on my Savior whole heartedly, giving him my sorrows and then snatching them back, and then relenting and giving them up again. Giving him my depression piecemeal until I could let it all go. I have never lost sight of my identity as a daughter of God even if I had lost hope concerning some of the other titles I carry.
At the end of July I was sitting in Sacrament mtg and I had a peace come over me so clearly, so succinctly that it was like I could hear the Lord saying "Now I'm pouring 300 ounces of Grace right on top of you to get you through the next slog." He has been my mainstay to my covenants, to my relationships and to my responsibilities. I know I am weak, but I can do all things through Christ's Grace and Atonement, which strengthens and enables me. Recently a healing has occurred that can only be described as a miracle, and just as smoothly as my dislocated joint returned to its proper place, I feel like this other hardship has been returned to its proper place and there is peace in my heart again. I thank God for this peace. I am grateful for my spouse, my children and my friends who have endured this section of the journey with me. There were potholes, ditches, flooding, washouts, fallen limbs, and fallen rocks blocking the easy way. The hard way required faith, trust, prayer, fasting and patience. I'm blessed beyond measure, and I do not take for granted any of the blessings or hardships that have fallen upon me. God is good, Jesus saves, and it will be all right in the end.
