I have never related to Rachel Green so much in my life. (The One with the Chick and the Duck – 11:14) February 20th I had carpal tunnel surgery. Fun, right?! The worst part isn’t the discomfort or pain, but rather trying to do things with one hand. I am a right handed person, and as such, I never noticed how much of a right handed world we live in until now. To all those southpaws out there, kudos to you for making it in this right hand world.

Another thing about being a hand down, is the fear of your 40-50 pound toddler eyeing you from the other end of the couch (which happens to be on my right) with his legs looking like springs. Trying to explain to a toddler why he can’t do the thing he loves doing is harder than you think. His mouth says “ok mommy” but his brain just doesn’t quite get it the first time. I think God put this instinctive reaction in us for these purposes. I’m not a fast person and yet when the turddler gets that look in his eyes I’m suddenly Usain Bolt going for the gold!

Also, taking a shower when you can’t get your hand wet is interesting. It takes what feels like a good 10 minutes just to get the plastic in place before getting in the shower. To whomever decided to put pump nozzles on shampoos and conditioners, I thank you! It’s the things you don’t think about until you are in this situation that make the biggest impact. Another example are leggings and other pant like clothing. I haven’t worn a pair of jeans in over a week. Buttoning, zipping, and belting is something I never knew I took for granted. Along with tying shoes, peeling a cutie, punching the straw into a capri sun pouch. There is a reason why there is a specialty that helps children/people make sure their fine motor skills are up to par. (Bless those people!) This also means no makeup has touched my face. My left hand isn’t the greatest in the fine motor skills area. It is a little shaky and mascara/eyeliner on the eyeball is definitely not the greatest feeling. Plus, knowing my luck my hand would jerk and I would end up with eyeliner line going up to my eyebrow instead of across.

I would like to ask God one thing though; why do we have a dominant hand? Couldn’t we all just be ambidextrous? Wouldn’t it be easier? Maybe instead I should ask creators of the stuff we use to make the stuff ambidextrous? Like the computer mouse. I don’t think my left middle finger has ever worked so much. The phone is on the right, the shifter in the car is on the right, which I’m thankful I don’t drive a standard anymore, even the cup holders are on the right.
You also don’t realize how much that second hand comes in handy until you are driving down the highway and your mom calls and you don’t have “handsfree”. You don’t shady button ya momma. If you do….you weren’t raised by my momma!!!!

My follow up appointment is in the morning (3/3/20) and hopefully I can take this….thing off my hand. Not only do I miss being able to do things, my arm gets hot and itchy! If I didn’t have an incision to worry about I would do the old pencil scratch trick!

Moral of the story, be grateful for all the little things God has given you in life!

¹⁶ “Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thess. 5:16-18

“² Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— ³ who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, ⁴ who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, ⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” –Psalm 103:2-5