But if not

I had a very nice talk with my brother this morning. Thanks Drew. He really gave me the pep talk I needed. I so admire the way things in life roll off his shoulders and he just rolls with what ever comes his way. He reminded me that there is nothing we can do about the fact that this has happened, it is what we do now that we have control over. We can choose to have a positive attitude and make the very best of it. Jared can say, I am going to prove these doctors wrong, and work hard and make more progress than they thought possible. There are many examples of people who took bad things and turned them into positives.

I wondered how you teach a kid to have such a good attitude. And I suppose the answer is by example. I must practice what I have preached about enduring trials well. I must say we were prepared to make a full recovery, but if not, I will still be strong and faithful and make the best of things. I can do that. Right now we are just going through the stages of grieving for the normal life that he has lost. It is completely normal and realistic to feel shock, anger, and pain at this news.

So for now the doctor has prescribed a traction thing for Jared to wear at night that will help pull that right leg away from the body. We go back to see the orthopedic surgeon in a month. Next Friday we have blood work done again and see what that tells us. We will continue with physical therapy, although I think they might change a little bit what they are having him do and certainly their expectations.

We have not yet decided what to do about school, but it is looking less likely to me, that he can handle it. I suppose home schooling him will not be the worst thing in the world. And I think he will still choose to go to seminary, because he really enjoyed it the one day he went last week.

So I am still dealing with feelings of loss and grief, but I feel more encouraged than I did last night. In an eternal perspective this really will not matter at all.