My sister's Rat Terrier, named Aiden, has a knack for getting his head stuck in things... Peanut butter jars, mason jars, random buckets...

I am one of the unlucky (or perhaps, unusually blessed) people who have severe, constant, incurable, chronic pain.

Don’t get me wrong, if I could rid myself of the pain - I would!  But I’ve learned many valuable lessons from being a sufferer of chronic pain that, otherwise, I’m afraid, would have gone unlearned.  That isn’t to say you can’t learn these same lessons, but rather you will not learn them in the same way.

I was diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis at the ripe old age of 13.  Not even late in my 13th year - no, rather it was two weeks after my birthday. Happy birthday to me!

Ever since I was about 13, simple tasks have grown more difficult.  Running, dancing, swimming and skating and horseback riding, all things I once loved, became a chore or nearly impossible.  I was an equestrian, a horse owner, and a horse lover.  After my fourth surgery though, with no relief in sight, with bills mounting up, keeping those sweet animals was not an option. 

What things I notice, the things I enjoy and appreciate, the average person would not notice.  A cool breeze, a crunchy leaf, a child’s laugh, old people holding hands, a traffic-free drive, a hug from a friend… these things mean so much to me.  If I didn’t take joy and pleasure in those types of things, I’d be a horridly depressed person. 

Ah, I must digress… You know what irritates me?  People who close their finger in a drawer or twist their ankle while walking down the street and then whine for ages.  You know what?  There are days I can’t walk without braces or crutches.  I had to quit running, sell my horses, and retire my competitive dancing days because of chronic, long-term, unrelenting pain and risk of further injury to my quickly aging knees.  Those of you who are lucky enough to not have such problems - be thankful.  Run, jump, swing, dance - and enjoy every second of it!  Do it, because I can’t.

While it is not true of most people, I am driven to succeed because of my limitations.  Not being able to run track compelled me to succeed academically.  Not being able to dance competitively made me want to sharpen my brain and wit.  I actually enjoy it, though!  I am a very competitive person.  Needless to say, I cannot compete with anyone athletically - but academically, I can fairly well hold my own.  No, I’m not the most intelligent person, but I secretly compete with all of my classmates.  Almost nothing gives me the same pleasure as receiving an A or a 100. 

Community service is something very near and dear to my  heart.  My junior and senior years of high school, I logged over 700 hours of community service.  Having a type of disability made me appreciative of the things I am able to do.  I may not be able to run a 5K, but I can play bingo with the old folks at the nursing home.  I won’t ever enter a hunter-jumper show, but I can answer phones at a church just as well as anyone else.  I may endure pain, sometimes debilitating pain, but I don’t have it that bad off!  I am healthy otherwise and my pain will not kill me.  Visiting children at the local Children’s Hospital, organizing drives and fundraisers for them, providing Christmas gifts for them, and hosting parties for them is something I really enjoy.  Some of those children will never get well;  the least I can do is make them smile.

It makes me so mad when people are too lazy, too apathetic, too self-absorbed to give one second’s thought about those who have it worse off.  Do you realize how often people complain?  How often do you complain?  Have you thought of those who have no house?  Those who are dying of cancer?  Those who may never walk again because of a drunk driver?  War veterans who are missing limbs and suffer constantly from phantom pain?  Think about it… do you really have it that bad?

Having chronic pain has made me so appreciative of the things I am able to do.  I appreciate days where I hurt less, days where I don’t have to take prescription pain medicine to fall asleep, days where I can positively influence another person’s life.  I don’t enjoy pain, and I never will - I know that my days will grow steadily worse and that age will not be kind to my body.  But I am thankful.  I am so, so thankful!  Praise God, for He has given me the ability to walk!  I don’t have cancer!  I have the best of friends, a supportive, encouraging boyfriend, and a great many other talents that are not physically related.

There are many days, many nights, where I wish I didn’t have this pain and I wish God would take it away - but I know it’s taught me too many good things for me to really regret having it at all.   I’ve learned to love as hard as I can, to be thankful for as much as possible, and to enjoy every second of life.

Sometimes, actually, I think the best thing that’s ever happened to me is chronic pain.

What are you thankful for?  What is the best thing that’s ever happened to you?