I was feeling pretty sorry for myself this morning. My husband looked outside and hollered, “It’s snowing.” From the date, you might think he was pulling an April Fool’s prank. But he wasn’t. It really was snowing. And then, once I was awake my little toe started throbbing again, the one I whacked against the leg of our bed last night.
One look at it in the cold, hard light of day and Hiram said, “You need to go to the doctor. It’s probably broken, and it could be the joint. Don’t dink around.”
So I have an appointment this afternoon at 2:40, which really messes up my writing day, not to mention I can’t wear a shoe and I couldn’t go for a walk this morning so what was I supposed to blog about today anyway?
My thoughts were zipping full speed ahead in that direction when the phone rang and Scott Newport, a friend I’ve made during my book publishing journey, was on the line. Scott and his wife Penni are parents of two children, Noah (10) and Evan (6). Evan was diagnosed with Noonan’s Syndrome, and lots of other stuff, shortly after birth. He wasn’t supposed to live past age two. Instead, he beat the odds and lives at home, cared for by his parents and a bevy of nurses.
Scott wanted to know my address because he’s sending me an end table he made out of old salvaged doors. He likes to turn what others consider garbage into beautiful, useful objects because that’s what he sees God doing with Evan’s life.
It was harder to feel sorry for myself after the phone call, but I managed. At least until I clicked the link Scott emailed a few weeks ago and listened to the Words to Live By RBC radio broadcast featuring him and Penni. By the time they finished their story, I was grateful to have any toes, even broken ones. I was thankful for snowy April mornings, my son’s life as a monk, my daughter’s college tuition bills and my husband’s advice. So if you’re feeling sorry for yourself this April Fool’s Day, you might want to listen to Scott and Penni’s story.
Get ready to be thankful, even for broken toes.
