Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BUSY (02/02/17)
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TITLE: Casting Call | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Powers
02/07/17 -
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No one expects it to actually happen. I certainly didn't.
But there I was, after a slip in the parking lot, with a very real cast on my very broken leg.
The worst thing about having a broken leg was: I didn't know what to do with myself. I'm one of those Moms whose calendar was bursting at the seams. I got up every morning, fixed breakfast for everyone, made lunches, walked the kids to their buses, and then went to work. Once I got home I'd make dinner, help with homework, do some laundry and then tried to find some alone time with Jim.
I was also in the church choir, the Mission Society, taught Sunday school, and last winter I'd joined the church drama group. That had been when my friend had wished me my broken leg.
Of course, she hadn't really meant for it to happen.
Had she?
But during those first few days at home, I found myself wondering what to do all day without my calendar calling the shots. I wasn't exactly a workaholic, but when someone had asked me for help, I'd felt obligated to say “yes.” After I broke my leg, I'd dreaded having to tell everyone I couldn't fulfill my promised duties. I figured they'd all really have to scramble to replace me.
On the contrary, all my projects went on without me, apparently without skipping a beat.
So.... everyone got along fine without me, but...
Who was I, without all those places to be?
My broken leg gave me lots of time to ponder that. That leg meant I was stuck in bed until Jim came to help me to the recliner. Let's face it: I couldn't even use the rest room without someone's help.
I hate being dependent on anyone. I'd really enjoyed making healthy meals, but my broken leg meant I had to let Jim take over the menu – and cringed when I saw him relying on cold cuts and microwave miracles. I'd also prided myself on how clean our laundry was, and had to bite my tongue when our daughters mixed the colors and heedlessly dyed Jim's white shirts pink.
Someone sent me a CD of the play I'd been practicing, and I had to admit the person who played my part did a good job. The play had gone just fine, without me.
I couldn't help but wonder: was I essentially useless?
After I admitted I didn't know who I was unless I had all those tasks to do, I asked God to show me just who He had called me to be.
At first, He led me to spend more quality time with Him. I don't think I'd ever realized how wonderful fellowship with God could be when I fully give myself over to it. Soon, I decided to keep it as part of my new daily routine.
Then, I began reading our church's daily prayer requests, and dedicated time to praying for my fellow church members.
After a few weeks, I noticed our daughter Kristin had begun doing her homework in the room where my chair was. She began asking questions I was pretty sure she knew the answers for, so I began to wonder if she was really seeking special time with me. I prayed for inspiration, and one day she noticed a quilt in the laundry pile, and admired it.
When I told her I'd made it, she asked if I could teach her how to quilt.
Silently thanking God, I made a quilt with Kristin, and forged a closer relationship to my daughter.
Little by little, I other found things to do with each of the kids and with Jim. By the time my cast was due to come off, I had blessedly discovered many new things about who I'm called to be.
So, when a friend called to invite me to join the drama group's next production, which begins practicing the week after the cast is due to come off, I could honestly tell her I wouldn't have time to take part.
But I wished her luck in the play.
Superstition or not... I wouldn't wish a broken leg on anyone.
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Awesome post.