Steadfastly Minded

Life is filled with set backs. Everybody goes through hardships. No-one is immune. When you look around you will see those either just coming out of something, in the middle of something, or just beginning a season of trials. It is part of the curse from the sin committed to Adam and Eve.

We do not always get to choose what trials we have to endure. What we do get to choose is the attitude with which we meet those trials. You could be weak mentally. On the other hand, you could choose to be steadfastly minded. To be strong mentally. To be determined to overcome and not give up.

I have seen this in my third son Tucker. For the third time in two years he had to undergo another surgery on his left knee. He missed all of his sophomore seasons of football, basketball, and track. He missed half of his junior football season and rarely played the last half. This year he was primed to enjoy his final season of football and the other sports. He missed several weeks of his senior season as well.

One catch in a football practice and he heard a pop in his left knee. The knee swelled. Doctor visit followed by MRI and waiting on the results. Diagnosis was inconclusive. The doctor told us he would not know for sure of the damage until We set the surgery date. He played his last game on a damaged knee.

December 15th at 11:30 a.m. Yesterday. Tucker felt like it was only a minor injury and he would be back before the end of basketball season, get to play tennis, and run track to finish his senior year. The surgery was scheduled to last two hours. Two and a half hours later Brenda and I got the news none of us wanted to hear. Tucker tore the same ACL he had repaired back in 2015. When he learned the news in the recovery room tears welled up in his eyes.

Those are painful moments then you as a parent and can't do anything to fix the pain or take away the bitter disappointment. The full weight of what he lost and the grueling rehabilitation ahead for the next six months hit him hard. We could only pray and love him through it.

The way he dealt with his previous surgeries amazed me. He did not pout. He remained positive. He did not sulk around in depression. He laughed. He enjoyed life with his friends. He did not become jealous. He even came home last week excited to tell me about a God moment he had earlier in the day.

He had surgery about 24 hours ago. He just left with his mother and brothers to go see a movie. He is getting up on his own and getting around with crutches. He is tough. Steadfastly minded. He has already turned the corner in his mind. He has laughed. He has made some jokes. He was determined to go to the movie today. Steadfastly minded.

There are others. Some women staying committed in loveless marriages where they are not appreciated. Tough people overcoming divorces they never planned for or saw coming. People who overcome the loss of a parent, spouse, child, or close friend. People who overcome financial set backs and losses. Steadfastly minded people who keep praying even though they have no results to show for  it.

I am thankful for the lessons I am learning from a steadfastly minded son. I am also thankful for the inspiration I received from a lady last weekend. Her trials are numerous. She was in a crowded room at a wedding reception. Though surrounded by people she looked alone. Her numerous health issues are common knowledge. Too numerous to list here. She had just recently undergone a major surgery to remove a tumor on her lungs. She told me about all the things she has endured in recent years when I sat down to check on her. In and out of hospitals. At death's door numerous times. She keeps fighting. She does not give up. I cannot imagine going through a fraction of the trials she has endured for so long. On top of all her own health issues her and husband have grieved the death of her daughter a few years ago. That painful sting sucked the life from both of them. Yet they press on for one another and their son. Steadfastly minded people.

In the end I thanked her for sharing her story. I told her she might not think God is using her but for everyone who sees her fighting and not giving up she inspires. She certainly inspired me. She is the personification of steadfastly minded. I live in a house of steadfastly minded children and a wife. There is so much I need to learn from them. So much I can learn from them. So much I need to learn from them. Lord, I ask you to teach me to be steadfastly minded with those around me and never give up.