God gave me back the desire of my heart
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart, Psalms 37:4 (NIV)."
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 11-13 (NIV)”
I just wanted to share with you what has happened in my life during this last 18 months. I had a great job as a cable installation technician, and on January 30, 2008 while I was extending a ladder to do an overhead disconnect, the ladder lost its footing on snow packed and icy pavement. The ladder went over, and my hand was still wrapped to the pull rope. As the 70 pound ladder fell it lifted my body right off the ground, causing me to land with my full body weight all 220 pound on my left shoulder.
After the initial hospital visit to the emergency room, the doctors only felt that I had bruised my shoulder and prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication. Well as time progressed, so did my discomfort level. The workers compensation company that handled the case for the company called me to ask, just how I was doing. I explained, and they said we want you tested further.
Now, as a bow hunter I was having great difficulty in drawing my very new Mathews Drenalin bow, so I did not practice with it but just a few times.
Well the company I was working for at the time of my injury, just could not handle my work restrictions that the doctor had put me on. So, on May 21, 2008 they let me go because I could not perform my job duties that I was hired for. I then contacted the workers compensation company, and they took care of me with no problems. It was later ruled that I would need surgery to fix the problem with my left shoulder.
Since having this problem, I just did not practice and so my bow hunting that I love to do was not a reality. I was so frustrated, about not bow hunting, that I just did not know what God had in store for me either.
Well I under went surgery on November 17, 2008 and after the surgery the doctor told my wife, that he had to remove 1” of my collar bone, the collar bone joint, bursa sack and a rotator cuff tear repair. When the doctor came into recovery to see me, he just shook his head and explained everything to me, telling me that it would be a long and painful recovery process.
Several week’s past, before I had my first office visit with my surgeon. He explained to me at this time, that he felt I would never draw a bow again. I can tell you that I totally felt crushed.
Well I started physical therapy, and found that my two physical therapist were also bow hunters. I explained to them the frustration I was having just lifting my bow, and discovered I could only lift it up about 10 degree’s. They explained to me that they would help me, help myself and I would be hunting during the 2009 bow hunting season. Well I also prayed about this, and give God the glory in the following occurrences.
God now gave me the drive, and ability to follow thru with the program that the physical therapist had given me to do. At about 2.5 months they asked me to start to lift my bow while grabbing the bow string, and just bringing it taunt to steady it. I finally was lifting my bow pretty good, so I decided to turn down its draw weight to about 60#. Well 3 months to the day, I went to our local Mathews Bow dealer called Spirit Quest Archery. I headed into the indoor range, where I shot my bow for about 3 hours.
You can probably imagine the joy I was feeling at this sudden change. Here my doctor had told me, that I probably would not be able draw my bow again. God made this happen, and I am so full of joy that yes, God has given me the desire of my heart once again.
Recently I went into a local sporting goods store, I thought hey I can draw my bow, I wonder if I can hold a rifle off hand. Well, I think God made the decision of what I am to use, because I thought I was going to drop the rifle it hurt so much to hold.
I just wanted to share this with you.
We have an awesome God
Jon Erdmann
