SILVER LININGS
As I am sure many of you know, I ruptured my Achilles about a month ago. And let me tell you, getting the MRI report and reading (actually having brother Dave Jr read and explain 😂) what actually happened was eerie. My phone call to my wife on my way home the night of the injury included the following, Me—“Do you want the good news or the bad news?…I’ll just start with the bad news. The bad news is I think I tore my Achilles. The good news? I got the rebound.” A silver lining. Needless to say, as the loving wife she is, she wasn’t too focused on the rebound but said something along the lines of “Well that’s good” as she played along with my humor at the situation. I’ve always been a “glass half full” kind of guy, but had this happened when I was younger, had it happened when I was still in school hopeful for a scholarship, I can tell you I would have been devastated.
There was a movie that came out when I was in high school called Friday Night Lights. One night the football team went to see that movie, and in it was a true story about a kid named James “Boobie” Miles who tore his ACL, lost his scholarships, never played high school football again, and had his football dreams dashed. There was much more to the movie but that was what stuck with me. I remember watching that movie and being heartbroken for James. The movie didn’t help my feelings towards injuries as I myself had occasional dreams (actually more like nightmares) about hyperextending my knee and woke up w/ a sore knee after those dreams. But sports eventually found their rightful place in my life, on the back burner as I am in a different season. A season in which my priorities are more in order. I am encouraged by many of the young people of the congregation, as they have made the best decision one can, and that is to allow God to add them to His church. Young souls who are focused on Christ at an age in which I was focused on shenanigans. After finding the Lord, sports are now behind Christ and my responsibility to Him, behind by wife and the children God has blessed me with, and behind my brethren and family. And although I was bummed this injury occurred as basketball has been my cardio, there are many silver linings I recognize as a result.
One is the reminder of how much love is in my life. My wife and children, my brethren, my family have all reminded me of how truly blessed I am to have such an amazing spouse, and such amazing people in my life. And the greatest love any and all faithful children of God can experience is the love of our Creator. We are going to face physical hardships, but that is to be expected as our Lord has made clear to those who choose to follow Him, that difficulties will arise. John16:33— “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” But such tribulation will only be temporary, and will be worthwhile should we take advantage of greatest display of love there will ever be. 1 John 4:9-10— “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” God will love us regardless of our physical condition. A silver lining.
Another is I have been reminded that even though this body will eventually deteriorate and return to the dust of the ground, it will not affect our opportunity to use it while we can to bring glory to our God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20— “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” With every breath God blesses us with, every day we have, regardless of our physical condition, we should use it give our God the glory, honor, and praise He deserves. Romans 12:1— “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Even in poor health we can still glorify our God. A silver lining.
I have been reminded that no matter how severe any physical pain we face in this life, there will be no pain for the faithful when we stand in the presence of God. Revelation 21:4— “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
A silver lining—A positive aspect found within an otherwise negative or difficult situation. It comes from a saying “Every cloud has a silver lining.” We can find plenty of silver linings in storms of this life regardless of and despite the severity of those circumstances and physical hardships we face, we simply have to look hard enough.