When we lived in California, it was not at all unusual for us to hear footsteps racing across the roof, followed by a moment of silence, and a thud as Billy ran, jumped, and often flipped off the roof onto a previously selected landing spot. Often I would hear him call me to come watch a new flip or move he'd learned. He was always careful and deliberate in his movements and I didn't worry. Much.
I enrolled him in a gymnastics class so he could learn basic techniques. A friend of ours paid for Billy to take a bona fide Parkour course. Billy never missed a class.
And then...
Last September, Billy was at a park with some of his cousins. They were practicing together and demonstrating for each other. "Watch this!" was the phrase of the day. Towards evening, Billy and his cousins decided they should head home. One last jump off the side of a building was planned. Billy was tired. He pushed off, but instantly knew by the feel of his body that he had done something wrong. He had.
He was off-balance and in the wrong position for a proper landing. When he did touch down, the force of his impact at the angle he hit snapped his right tibia down by the ankle. He was in excruciating pain and in need of emergency surgery to screw his bone back together, followed by a leg cast, physical therapy, NO more Parkour, and a very unhappy young man.
Fast forward one year.
One of Billy's screws had worked its way loose and begun to wobble around in his bone. The doctor was concerned that the screw might break and leave pieces for him to try to dig out. The wiggly screw might eventually weaken Billy's bone as it gradually wore the hole bigger. Bottom line: the screw had to come out.
Friday, Billy and I headed to the hospital. We were told to be there at 9:00 a.m. sharp, but when we arrived, they said, "Oh, we're not ready for you yet." And they weren't for another three hours and forty-five minutes! When they finally did get Billy to into surgery, he was done in twenty short minutes - small incision, unscrew the screw, two stitches, brief consultation, done. Only there was another two hours to wait while Billy was in recovery. Then ... finally ... a groggy Billy and an elated me were released from the hospital.
Today, Billy is doing well. He has very little pain and is able to walk with only a minor limp. But, he still cannot do Parkour for quite awhile. This is going to be a hard time for him. But, I believe, by the promise of Romans 8:28, it will also turn into something good for him. I'm praying he will trust God enough see the good in this time as well.
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