In the Family and Church History Mission there is a definite rule: No falling! But unfortunately there are times that the planets align in the wrong way and falling is required. I experienced that last Monday leaving the elevator of the JSMB after work.
We were in a hurry because we had been in a meeting that ran us later than we had wanted to and my mother was waiting for us to pick her up to go workout. Ed and I were talking as the elevator doors opened and we quickly walked out. I took two steps and on the third step my shoe found the lone grape on the marble floor, probably dropped as part of a child's healthy snack but had no health benefits for me. I went down so fast!! The right foot shot out, I came down on my left knee then to my left side with my left arm stretched out in front of me with such force that part of my wedding rings flew off my finger! I heard a crack as I went down coming from my foot...."oh no", I thought, "not my right foot!" My first words out loud were, "Ed, get my rings!"
I stayed down for a few minutes waiting for the pain in my right foot to come. It didn't seem too bad! I wondered if I could walk but the more immediate question was, can I get up? Fortunately I had gone down right next to the down staircase so the railing was next to me. I was able to pull myself up and put weight on my foot......it was not too bad. Okay....the next question was, could I walk? As I stood up I could tell that there was something on the bottom of the shoe. I took it off and discovered the grape, greenish, clear stuff stuck in the bottom of my shoe. I asked Ed to clean it off before I walked anywhere and then I noticed the floor. There was greenish, clear stuff in several unnoticeable spots.
At this point I noticed that there were about a half dozen people standing around me. Some of them were cute teenage girls. I smiled and told them I was fine and, trying to make a joke, I asked the girls if I had gone down gracefully. They were saying yes as my dear husband came up with my shoe and just flatly told me, "No, it was not graceful!" The girls and their mother then moved on so I don't really know if I kept any dignity at all with this fall. I will have to wait for the "video in the sky" to see myself. That's okay, I can wait.
We decided that we should go into the host office and report the mess on the floor and let me sit down for a few minutes. It was at this point that the hostesses realized that I had fallen on their floor and that it was because there was something there and that it was still there. Just as that sunk in I turned around to tell them where the grape remains were and the elevator door opened with a sea of tourists getting off. I couldn't help myself and I yelled, "No, no, be careful!!" One of the hostesses headed out with tissues to clean it up before someone else fell and the other hostess must have called security because at that moment the first of three security men came through the door. It was magical! They came out of the woodwork! Where were these ninja-like men? They are invisible! I made the woodwork comment and they all smiled.....I made them very happy that day.
One of the security guys handed me a little ice pack. The other got out a little notebook and started asking me questions while he looked at my foot. As we looked down, we could see the swelling begin on the top of my foot. I was happy I wasn't feeling the pain I know goes with a badly sprained ankle. (I had experienced that on a family vacation one year with my left ankle. It was horrible pain.) But it was swelling none-the-less so we discussed what my options were for getting it looked at by medical personnel. The cute ninja man who seemed to be in charge (with the notebook) squatted down next to me and said calmly, "You have several options. You could go to the hospital on your own or we could call the paramedics and they could see you here right now." I asked if there was someone on the Square who would come and he looked at me with no change of expression and said, "No, when we call they bring the very large fire engine, the ambulance and all the other trucks with them." ^_^
I told him we would take care of it ourselves.
We were in and out of the emergency room quite quickly with an xray confirmation that the foot was not broken but that I should stay off of it for about a week and ice it every day for 20 min. an hour. (Yeah, that worked well into my schedule!)
Ed drove me each day to and from work. I iced my foot each night after returning home for the evening. I didn't get to do some of the things that we had planned for the week, but that was just fine. I believed then and believe now that I was given another blessing as a missionary in that my foot was not badly sprained or broken and that over the week it has healed rapidly.
On a happier note, we were able to go to the wonderful Pioneer Celebration put on by the Tabernacle Choir last Friday night. It was more about honoring our military past and present. It was very well done. We were surprised and touched to see our friend's daughter as one of the people who spoke about her service in the military in Afganistan. She spoke so well and told of her love for the people, especially the children there and how touched all the troops were when they left that little city and watched as the children waved goodbye and held up an American flag. After her taped interview was over she came out on stage in her dress blues and her mother came down from her choir seat and they embraced and stood for the applause of the crowd. What a grand moment for them both to hear the love, admiration and gratitude from 20,000 people in the Conference Center. It was very touching.
I have thought so much this week about sacrifice. I have been reading "Fire in the Bones" by Michael Wilcox. It is about William Tyndale, the "father of the English Bible". He was hunted and eventually tortured and killed for translating the Bible into English so the common man could read the words of the Savior. He is the one who said, "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou dost. (William Tyndale, to Gloucestershire Cleric)
Even as we celebrate the pioneers coming across the plains of this country 164 years ago, I know that there were many people throughout history who were moved upon by the Spirit to do things that were contrary to the times but crucial in the shaping of events to help bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into the lives of the people of the world. Many, many people gave their lives in ways that we are often oblivious to. These sacrifices are still going on today as the gospel is taken to the peoples of the world. I am so grateful for them all.
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