Because I Can

  I was out for a walk around the campground, walking the loop, I call it. Trying to get a little bit of exercise, playing music through my headphones to keep me walking at a good pace. Since I'm easily distracted and tend to slow down and lallygag, music helps me keep going, as I will walk in time with the music. As I was walking, a couple of young children who live here in the campground stopped and asked me, "Why are you walking?" Since this was the second lap around the campground, I'm sure they were wondering why I was walking by again. I responded, "Because I can." 

 I think back just barely two years ago, I wouldn't have been able to do this. I was either in a wheelchair or walking with a walker, trying to gain strength in my weakened limbs. You could hardly call it walking, it was more of a shuffle. But today, I can walk, so I do.

    It reminds me of a song I learned recently written by Tim Timmons. Part of the song says, "I'll praise You, not that I have to, not that I ought to, but that I may." 

    Praising the Lord should always be 'that I may" and let me add, 'that I can.'

  

  During some very dark days of my life, when I lifted my voice and sang praises to God. Someone asked me, "How can you sing at a time like this?" My response was, it's my lifeline, the only thing that's keeping me alive and going. It truly was a "that I may" time. Putting my focus on Jesus for even the length of a few songs, strengthened me just a little more to keep walking through the darkness that was all around me.  Psalms 34:1-4 "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears."