Learning to Use My Gift of a Wheelchair - 02/26/2024

  “Learning to Use My Gift of a Wheelchair”

Reflection, flowers, thorns & roses. “Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10 

Did you know that there are flowers that grow in the crevices between the rocks in the mountains?  To me, it is a picture of God creating beauty in the most unexpected places.  You’ve probably seen them blossom in some stone walkways amongst the weeds.   Our daughter, Lindsay’s favorite chore was to weed our walkway, NOT!   It is not a favorite job in our lives either, as we have to work hard individually to get the weeds out of our lives, so God’s roses & His divine flowers can bloom within crevices of our lives.  An extraordinary story I’d like to share today is one regarding our niece Gina Denbow and it reflects in a powerful way our grandniece Katelyn Denbow.  Jamie told me that he had received a text message from Gina & when he read it to me, I instantly became a “hot mess” with tears & multileveled deep emotions.  Gina wanted to know if I would like to use Kate’s wheelchair.  Kate is my grandniece whom we lost at 25 years old to a very rare disease called Alstrom syndrome on January 7th, 2023.  Above is my favorite picture of Kate & I that was taken at her graduation from CICS.  If you would like to find out more or make a donation to help others with this rare disease, please go to www.alstrom.org.  There are times you are humbled by “a gift of love beyond earthly words”, which is exactly what this moment was.  With a humbled, grateful and tearful heart I accepted Gina’s EXTRAORDINARY gift of love.  Now when using it… well it is kind of like Kate is with me each day now.  There just are no words G to say thank you.  This is definitely a picture of a rare flower that blooms between the rocks, in our hardest places in life. 

My summation regarding learning to use the gift of Kate’s wheelchair took a unique twist or should I say turn?  It is unlike the transport wheelchair I first used.  Jamie did all the work with that one & I was just along for the ride or found means to grab things to push myself around.  This new wheelchair has wheels that you can steer by hand but, I seriously need “wheelchair drivers training” for real!  SOS!!!!  Does anyone know if Service New Brunswick offers a course?  I would totally FAIL a pylon test at this point in time! Jamie will NEVER get his damage deposit back on our apartment now either.  Each hand has to do the opposite to turn right or left & each of these maneuvers are the opposite.    Then of course there is my lack of knowledge regarding the concepts of my right and left.   My kids are so fortunate that I passed that trait on to them too.  Maybe muscle memory will come into play someday.    This retired special education teacher just has to admit that there is a steep learning curve due to her own learning disabilities.     I am grateful & I now KNOW FOR SURE that Grandniece, Kate, was a GENIUS!!! 

After confessing my humours wheelchair adventures to my daughter Lindsay she responded:  “Maybe you need to pad the corners of the apartment with foam  or at the very least put some padding on yourself while you are learning ”  As you can tell the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

My response:  “Both VALID ideas at this point in time.  I see Canadian Tire in our future & a HUGE Bubble wrap order from Amazon!!!”

Lindsay: “ both are also good places to start”

Me: “Team work is the dream work!  

Ang’s suggestion:  “Maybe learn in the hall. It won’t affect your damage deposit ”

Dianna: ”It will come with practice  I can just imagine how tricky it is! Just keep your toes in!! Lol  love you!!”

Me:  “I am sure to succeed with all this positive input!”

Me: “Wait, maybe my attitude needs to change.  Seriously, if I mastered ‘The Bottoms Up Cafe’ I think I will master the maneuvers necessary to use the gift of Kate’s wheelchair.  After all, a once famous engine said, ‘I think I can!  I think I can!!  I think I can!!!’ That engine was also wise in that it started out slowly & did not implement my Mario Andretti approach.”

Judy Dewar & I were chatting a few days later & I was sharing this story with her.  She said, “Just think about it like when you were driving a car.  If you want to go right you turn the steering wheel right and if you want to go left you turn it left.  Well, there you go!  Only I am not using the right\left concept.  Just if I want to turn in that direction turn the hand that way, as I did when I drove a car.  I am now doing a bit better with my new quest.  I do think I may need steel toed shoes though.  I was famous for tripping over my own two feet, but now I can officially RUN OVER MY TOES… so Dianna ‘was right’ with her advice to, “Just keep your toes in!!”  Don’t we all love to hear we were right?!?! 

When glancing at our kitchen table, I realized there was one more story about flowers growing amongst the rocks that I wanted to share.  Well in this case, I should say growing within the sea glass.  When my grandson Owen came to visit a few weeks ago, he told his mother he wanted to get some legos to put together while he was here.  The “love of legos” has been handed down from generation to generation right Jessica L Matthews?  Believe it or not Owen found a set of sunflower legos.  Owen knows that sunflowers are my FAVORITE flower, so that is a set he got.  While at the apartment, he put them together with his father Peter & left them for me.  I placed them within a pitcher that was our great Aunt Bet’s & holds sea glass.  So you might say I have sunflowers blooming in a most unexpected crevice\place.  Everyday I enjoy the gift of these sunflowers.  Again this is a picture of extraordinary Christ-like love.  Who can you extend your Christ-like love to today?   “Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.”  Romans 12:10

My heart believes that part of our journey in life is to learn to embrace where we are & trust God for the rest.  There is a deep beauty that only the valley can hold.  Colors are more vivid here because things grow very lush here from the dew, due or do of Christ, if you carefully look.  Apply each of those homophones too, for they are each a deep subject.  Yes Mrs. Coffin & Miss Mulholland I am thinking of you.  Are you in a valley today or are you up on a mountain top?  Either way God CAN use you.  In the valley He teaches you rich things that only the valley yields, which you can share with others.  Remember God wants us to share the trials we have been through to touch others for Him.  If you are on the mountain top take time to reflect on the goodness God has bestowed on your life, take time to bless others with what you have been given.  Honestly being Heavenly rich is NOT as earthly richness would appear.  Sometimes one statement or kind word can change someone’s life.  I know because I am one of those lives that has been changed. 

A few years ago Pastor Angela introduced me to the concept of God giving me a word for the year and a verse.  God has taught me many divine things with this gift each year.  It has also allowed me to be more in tune with God & to process His presence in a deeper, more profound way.  My word for the year is “reflection” and my verse for the year is, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.  Not sure why I am always amazed at what God can do & reveal to me but I am!  I am in totally AWE of the things God has been unfolding in my life through this verse and word.  One of my sentences of prayer to God to prevent feeling overwhelmed… or if I have let the emotion of overwhelmingness room to creep in is: “Ok, God you take care of this for me.”  God always has throughout my life & He always will.  The word “reflection” when put into practice is a powerful concept that yields this very truth.  Reflecting on Gina & Kate’s journey through the years has humbled me & taught me much.  Can you imagine where this word & my verse will take me this year?  I am beyond excited to have God reveal it to me each day.  It is like unwrapping a divine gift from God.  Thank you God that amongst the rock’s crevices flowers bloom and that among the thorns there are roses.  There really is a deep divine nugget of knowledge held within the statement, “Stop & smell the roses”.   Have you really stopped to smell the roses today?  My heart suggests you do, no matter where you are on your journey.  God places His blessings & gifts in extraordinary places IF we are humble and open our eyes & hearts to receive.  “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17  Where have you found flowers in the crevices of your life?  Who has shared the gift of their journey of finding roses amongst the thornes with you?  Be sure to take the time to pass on their beautiful gift to others. 

Thank you again to each of you for the gift of your love, prayers and encouragement.  Love comes in all different forms but that is a story for another day.  May I ask you once again to say a prayer for three precious friends to my heart, Heather Roth ,  Aubrey Fasulo & Ewa Pankratz.  You have heard me mention them to you before.  God always knows the details & what could take seconds for you can change their very lives today.  May God continue to bless you each in just the ways you need, as only He can do.