Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.
As some of you know I was cycling at noon on Wednesday and was hit by a company van turning right as I was crossing the street in the crosswalk. Though he hit me with the front of his vehicle, fortunately I was thrown to the right, away from the wheels. My bike was not so lucky. He dragged it underneath for 25 feet before he stopped. It’s toast. A former EMT and a student nurse were the first to arrive on the scene for which I’m grateful. Roughly 36” further into the crosswalk and I would have suffered the same fate as the bike. The man was not paying attention. I have no anger or malice towards him, he is only one of many drivers who are distracted while driving.
I am grateful to Our Heavenly Father for that 36” differential. He continued to accelerate after he hit me and could have sucked me under the vehicle. I landed on my right shoulder and fractured the scapula (shoulder blade) and have abrasions up and down the right side. I was wearing a helmet so there were no head injuries. After I arrived to the emergency room by ambulance, the ER doctor had x-rays taken of my shoulder, chest, and right leg. I was glowing afterwards. Later, he ordered a cat scan since the shoulder break often punctures the lung. Thankfully there was no kitty litter close by.
I received a tetanus shot and effectively had a physical. The lifetime of exercise paid off and the doctor was impressed with my condition. Yesterday, Pam took me to the surgeon and he indicated that I would not need surgery since my ball and socket were still in alignment. Four weeks of restricted arm movement, then four weeks of physical therapy were prescribed. Since I am left-handed, I can still maneuver reasonably well. I appreciate all the prayers from family and friends.
Several of us have been in life-threatening situations. In the aftermath, I think about how grateful I am for what Our Heavenly Father has done for me. We tend to take some things for granted when we have not been challenged. For now, I cannot tie my own shoes. Bummer! I am a lovin’ those flip flops. I encourage you to stop and express your gratitude to Our Heavenly Father. No matter what your circumstances are, they could be worse in a split second. As we focus on maintaining our fellowship with Our Heavenly Father, HE will protect us from those fatal events. I am thankful to live another day.