Why Crutches Still Stand By My Mirror

It's been 2 months since I've needed them, but my crutches still stand by the full-length mirror in my bedroom.  My daughter pointed them out to me the other day and asked why they were still there.  I didn't have a very good answer for that one.  It wasn't until later that I discovered there are actually...

5 Reasons Why I Still Keep My Crutches Handy

  1. I'm lazy.  Part of the reason the crutches still reside in the corner of my room is that I've been too lazy to move them elsewhere.  It's just that simple.

  2.  I'm scared.  I'll be the first to admit that there is a sense of fear involved.  I've experienced enough to know that pain does not discriminate between days or seasons.  My hip can feel just fine one day, then cause me excruciating pain the next.  When experience mixes with the unknown, a degree of fear is not a surprising development.  So it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

  3. They're a part of me.  There have been long periods of my life during which my crutches were just another accessory that I wore daily.  Just as I clipped on my watch or slid on my Mercy ring, so did a grab 1 or 2 crutches to get me through the day.  All of my most necessary accessories are within arms reach of my mirror.  It's natural.

  4. They inspire gratitude.  When I look at my crutches, I'm reminded that there is much to be thankful for.  There were lots of things I wasn't able to do while using crutches.  Most things that I could do took a lot longer to do.  One of the most devastating realities of being stuck on crutches was my inability to carry a cup of coffee.  Now that's a rough life, folks.  So when I see my crutches at the start or end of the day, I'm encouraged to think of life's simple pleasures that I am free to enjoy.

  5. They remind me.  It's true.  Those crutches remind me that anything is possible.  Both the good and the bad.  The world will try to knock you down, but there's always someone who will carry you.  Setbacks are practically guaranteed and nearly always unexpected.  But they don't last forever.  In a way, my crutches symbolize Jesus.  I don't put them away because I don't put Him away.  I always need Him and I always look to Him.  Some days I lean on Him more than others and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  It's okay to need some help guys.  Jesus would rather me lean on Him in painful circumstances than try to tough it out myself.  He's strong enough to bear the burden that weighs me down.

I know it's a mixture of simple, silly, and serious, but it's all true.  You probably won't see or hear of me stowing away my crutches in the near future.  They're an important part of my story and I can't say for certain that their role is finished in the plot that is my life.

What random item have you been reluctant to place in storage?

Previous
Previous

Creating An Eternal Moment

Next
Next

“Someone Should Have Warned Her”