Life can bring us unexpected twists and turns. The worst of
these twists and turns can include “life-threatening injuries-” serious threats
to our lungs, brains, and even hearts. However, there is another under-reported
injury almost as serious to the heart- a “love threatening injury.” I know,
because it happened to me!
I can’t remember what I was doing at the time- perhaps
lifting heavy boxes of donuts or carryout pizzas- but I do remember the searing
pain that shot through my upper right arm. It was unbearable when it happened,
but I soon realized that it was only a “freak” muscle pull- it only hurt when I
stretched my arm a certain way. I quickly learned to modify my actions and
behavior to avoid stretching my arm in ways that generated such enormous pain.
Life was good again… or so I thought…
It happened one beautiful Sunday morning just before the
opening hymn. I truly love to be seen with my wife, next to my wife, with my
arm around her, at church worshipping God and discussing life and the Gospel
with other like-minded saints. Just as I
had done at least 1,000 times before, I casually leaned back on the pew and automatically stretched my right arm around my wife. I expected to squeeze her
shoulders gently and romantically pull her closer to me- to make her feel warm,
comfortable, wanted, and loved.
But that’s not what happened. Instead that unbearable, searing pain surged
through my right upper arm again, making it impossible to complete that display
of love I had delivered on so many Sundays before- to lovingly put my arm
around my wife in Sacrament meeting! What about all those lonely years in the
bishopric, sitting on the stand missing the pleasure of being seen next to the
most beautiful girl in the room, now only to be thwarted by debilitating muscle
pain in my hugging arm!
What do you call that? A love-threatening injury!
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