Moving right along...

Remember, the Muppet Movie? That one phrase is boppin' through my head 'cause that's kinda what I feel like we are doin'.

Today was the first day of Occupational Therapy, which means they began to move her arms around. Those of you who have been in since she has been awake know that she has been raising her left arm and waving good-bye and hello. Lately she has even been able to raise it enough to scratch her nose and point to things. She is also using her left hand to hold the laser pointer when she wants to say something with the letter board. Because she is using her left arm more, it is in much better shape than the right arm.

Now the right arm...that is a different story. It is incredibly stiff because it spent 3 weeks in a heating pad to keep the circulation going. Then, she had a hematoma in her upper arm that basically bruised her from her shoulder all the way to her wrist. It is clearing up a bit, but it is incredibly tight. These things are all conspiring to make it more difficult to move her arm around. It hurt a bit when the therapist tested her range, so the therapist gave us homework. Thankfully Tammy understands how important it is to constantly work toward goals, so we are praying God super-humanly enables her muscles to gain in strength every day.

In 2 Samuel 22:29-37, David sang a song of victory after God delivered him from King Saul who once again tried to kill him. The song starts at the beginning of the chapter, but these verses seemed very poignant to me, especially when David spoke of how the Lord enabled him. Read with me:

You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.

Our darkness has been turned to light, and though unlike David, our battle is not over, our enemy is not defeated. But, with his help, Tammy can scale the wall. This is not the path anyone would have chosen for her, but it is His path, and He is providing the victory. It is He who is strengthening her spirit. It is He who is strengthening her leg muscles to allow her to push up and to stand. It is He who will help her train her hands for the battle ahead. (But please don't send her a bow and arrow set. I am too easy of a target!) It is also He who will shield her and give the victory. Yes, she has great spirit, but it is His Spirit alive and working in her and through your prayers that are making the difference in Tammy and her her recovery.