I Hope His Prayers Are Answered

I was sitting in our doctor’s office, waiting to be X-rayed, to learn if there’d been more than just a sprain to right knee, Whining to my mother how I’d had so many injuries it seemed as though the “god-of- luck” apparently hated me. “Just last week”, I started moaning, “warmin’ up at practice, me an’ Carson bet a buck on who would win at sprints. Well…I went home a dollar down, and -- with a twisted ankle -- from steppin’ in a ground squirrel hole just inside the fence. “And, Mom,” I told her, “you know how - whenever I play tennis - I always get those monster blisters just behind my toes… “well…even though I do my best to hide the pain they cause, I know - because of how they make me walk - my hurting shows. “My ankle’s feelin’ pretty good, and - having not played tennis for seven days - my blisters are now fairly close to healed, But…sure enough…the minute I get really close to healthy…the coach decides to move my butt from third to center field, “And in less than fifteen minutes in to playin’ for the championship - divin’ to catch a blooper - that I really shouldn’t have missed - I wrenched my stupid knee so bad Coach had to take me out…and the “god-of-luck” - because he hates me - also sprained my wrist! “I hope the doc decides that I can take this knee brace off. I hate the way that people tend to stare…I ain’t no gimp. It’s bad enough my blisters make it tough - until they’ve healed - to run as though there’s nothing wrong…and walk without a limp!” Fin’ly, Mom responded, “Dear…you’ll learn, as time goes by, there aren’t that many days in life that pass without a glitch. Everything you’ve whined about is not that big a deal, and frankly…I’m a little tired of listening to you !” Well…that was when the door that I’d been waiting for to open swung aside to clear the way for what would give me pause, And make me suddenly realize how selfish, and how hurtful, whining like a baby over superficial flaws Has to seem to someone who would gladly take my place. Whom…due to serious issues, can no longer use his legs. I pray to God his doctor finds a way to help him walk…and I hope his prayers are answered by the deity he begs.