I broke my finger recently. It is the index finger on my right hand. It has been painful, and I have been a big baby about it. I thought about posting a picture of it on Facebook, in order to elicit more sympathy to my cause. I am glad I decided against it: First of all because I might lose readers who get grossed out easily and secondly because I have little reason to feel sorry for myself. I really don’t need that bad attitude encouraged.

Here is the story. I was at work on Memorial Day. I reached into the tube system to pull out a tube full of change. I had been distracted and didn’t realize how long it had been since it dropped. Suddenly I heard a tube rattling in the system overhead. I did not get my hand out quickly enough, and my finger was smashed between the tubes.

After the emergency room, my sister-in-law took me to the pharmacy to get pain meds. My little niece, Amanda, came and spent the night with me so I wouldn’t have to be alone. I was off work for about a week. I read, watched movies, ate, and relaxed. I had to avoid chores because I had a broken finger!

Although it sounds like a little vacation, and it was, I had moments when it was hard to look at it that way. I hurt. I wasn’t sleeping well. The antibiotics and pain medication made my stomach upset. I had a hard time doing simple tasks for myself. I started to get discouraged. I dropped the shampoo bottle while showering. It was hard to wash my hair with a plastic bag over my hand and a bulky splint on my finger. I started to cry and pray.

As I did, the Lord reminded me that my situation was minor in the scheme of things. He reminded me that on Memorial Day many celebrated lost loved ones and I worried about a lost fingernail. He reminded me that I had a beautiful home to relax in, a supportive family to help me, and medication to ease my suffering. Later as I was whining about the difficulty in taking a shower, He brought to my remembrance this video. http://youtu.be/gpBqR7_ilz0

I realized that complaining is a problem for me. I need to have a thankful heart. Too often I believe life should be problem free. When it is not, I am a big baby. Instead, I need to view the obstacles in my path as opportunities to be an over comer. “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5). Who overcomes? The believer in Jesus.

I want to thank you Jesus for loving me and caring for me. I want to thank you for giving me power by your Spirit to overcome. Let me show courage in adversity. Thank you for the examples of courage that you brought to my remembrance. They persuaded me to change my attitude. Help me to keep an over comer’s attitude for that is who I am.