Appreciation

Appreciation-One positive thing about my current situation is that I have
learned to appreciate certain things a lot more.

One thing that I never really thought much about before but sure am thankful
for is my eyesight. I use my eyes a lot. Especially for communicating. I
need my eyes to use my speech board  and I wouldn't even be able to use my
computer to communicate without eyesight. I often tell the nurses what I want by merely
looking at it. The time would drag by even slower for me without eyesight.
Now, at least, I can read, both Bible and other stuff, write e-mails and
watch tv. I don't even want to think about what my life would be like
without being able to see.But, on rare occasions that I do, I sure appreciate
the way it is right now.

I appreciate my hearing, something else that I took for granted. Once in
awhile, my ears get plugged so I get a small idea of what it would be like
not to be able to hear. Still, though, even when my ears are plugged, I can
still hear a little bit. I can't even imagine going to church and not being
able to hear the sermon or the music. My day-to-day life in Long-term Care
would be even more difficult. What would replace all the time that I spend
listening to music? I can't imagine having a lot of conversations with the
nurses, except when it is necessary. It would simply be too difficult for
them to make me understand.

I appreciate that I have a sound mind. Because the stroke I had was
basically a blood clot at the base of my brain, I have occasionally wondered
if there was potential for brain damage. Anyway,, I appreciate the fact that
I have a sound mind. I always think that it is better to have a body that
doesn't work with a mind that does than the other way round. Every so often,
people come to Long Term Care with perfectly healthy bodies  but their minds
are shot. It is pretty sad.

I appreciate friends. Both those that go out of their way for me  and the
ones that are praying for me. I so appreciate the time people spend with me.
And I also know that praying is the most important thing that we can do for
other people. No doubt, all the prayers are helping me to endure.

I appreciate the nurses in Long Term Care. I get good care, I am sure other
people do too, and I certainly do value the friendship that I have with most
of the nurses but one thing that really impresses me is that they genuinely
seem to care for the people in Long Term Care. Elderly people don't always
have a lot of people to care for them so it is so nice to see that the staff
does.

Most of all, I appreciate Jesus. I appreciate that He died on a cross so I
don't have to go to hell. I appreciate that He gave me hope of healing in
this lifetime. I appreciate that, because of Him, I am never alone even when
there are no people around. I appreciate the strength that Jesus gives me to
cope with each day. And so on and on and on.