Last week my son had surgery on his broken thumb. The nerve block that they gave him lasted a day and a half. He was not able to feel anything from his shoulder down and couldn't move his muscles. No matter how much he concentrated on wiggling his fingers they just hung limp. From a pain perspective the extended numbness was a blessing but it also provided Joe a little taste of my world.

As Joe stared at his dangling fingers he asked me if I felt like this? Lou told him that I have the feeling sensation but I can't get my muscles to respond. Joseph smiled and said that it was good that this happen to him. He never really understood why I couldn't do things, he had always been able to move.

We can look at people who are struggling with a sense of self righteous pride. We wonder why they can't handle their life situations or have a better attitude. From our perspective we think that we could do much better. In reality we wouldn't! A "nerve block" cripples everyone. What blessed my heart is that Joseph used his experience to understand and identify with me!

Thank you Joe for reminding me how to view people. We all have a nerve block areas. Apart from God's grace and support of others we are helpless! I more than anyone, with my ALS nerve blocked body, should be the most compassionate of all. I need to be the loudest voice of HOPE. God's love is more powerful than NERVE BLOCKS!

Verses : II Corinthians 3:4-5

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

Joni Eareckson Tada with Kristyn Getty (and band) singing "Good Shepherd Of My Soul"