Someone please tell me what Stamina Means~

As most of you already know, I got a wild idea about a month ago to plant lots of new flowers so we could sit on our porch and enjoy their beauty.  That idea took us from my husband digging in the dirt-to a fast ride to the doctor because He broke his Thumb-then going further for Surgery on the Thumb with Pins being put in it.    One simple idea really got turned upside down-we had to hire some guys to put the plants in the ground, and having to just sit around as we wait for the thumb to heal.

One would think Martha might say "okay-enough of the plant stuff" but I begged dear Husband to stop by another Plant store so we could Look around-as we are walked in, a young clerk says "You have been here before!  The Cold Water Jug is right over in the corner-remember you almost passed out the last time you were in here!"  Nice to know I leave a lasting impression and she was right-I got carried away with all the plants around me and forgot how Hot it gets here in Texas and well-lets just say I was going down fast when my friend saw me and started throwing water on me!

Husband suddenly has a memory flash and tells me-"You go sit under the shade tree and I will bring some plants over for you to give a Yes or No to!"  He didn't have to speak twice as I was again feeling the heat and found a lovely shaded area.  We came home with some nice plants and my goal was to get them all planted-sounded like a easy task, but for me-well not so easy-and definitely not pretty!  Once I get down to ground level-the method I use to find my way back up to a standing position should never be seen in public!

It took about three hours to get ten plants in the ground-with at least seven breaks of me dragging my old body to the porch and gasping for air.  My dear husband-man with one good Thumb kept offering his help, but oh no-Martha was going to get this job done, one way or the other!  Stubborn Pride is not always the greatest quality to have-as I recall a distant memory of me and a tree.

So I am sitting there, dirty, tired, aching-wanting to throw the remaining plants away and suddenly I hear these words "Well Martha-you are doing great at planting-its just taking you time to get your Stamina back!" I froze at the words, anger growing fast inside-and the crazy part was I couldn't really put my finger on Why that Word made me so mad.  We sat there, time ticking away and me thinking about what his words meant-was it just a simple statement he made, or was he trying to find words to cheer me on as I struggled to finish this task that once was so easy for me to do?

Then it hit me-I thought that word was something I would never think of again-but a realization hit me-I had never given the word up-as I still get through each day with the small amount of Stamina left in me. Now I use it to help me fight my way through the Pain I live with-instead of planting and doing physical work that was so meaningful to me.  My rise to anger when hearing the word was a reaction to how hard I had to struggle to put these simple plants in the ground-and I knew it was time to let my husband know what was going on.

We are admiring the plants and I tell him "You know, I got so Mad at you about an hour ago-because you said one word, Stamina!"  Now I understand all you were doing was making a statement-no hidden meaning for you-but a ton of emotional meaning for me!"  He took a long slow look at me and said "Martha-I watched you struggle and was proud of you for at least trying to tackle this job, and yes Dear Wife-it was taking a lot of Stamina that you do not Have!"

Together we figured out the meaning of Stamina-and I have a feeling it takes a ton of it for my husband to deal with the ups and downs his wife goes through in fighting Pain.  We finished the last two plants together-him with the bad Thumb, me with the bad body, but the two of us United in Love.  He made one last comment to me "Sure hope these are the last Plants-we don't need anymore" and I shook my head in agreement!  First thing I have to do in the morning is call our Local Plant Store and tell the lady-"Please put those extra Five Plants I ordered today back in your stock-I won't be needing them!" Thats one phone call he doesn't need to hear me make!

One day at a time, we learn lessons-good and bad-but we keep learning.  My Joy came today when my husband helped pull me up from the ground and I leaned against him in total exhaustion!  We laughed and hugged.  Not a bad way to end the day.

God bless you all.  Martha