“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”- Albert Einstein

Today is Friday, February 20, 2025, and I bid you a God blessed hello from my station here to wherever you happen to be. I had my six month appointment with my podiatrist this morning. I may be in the minority but I actually enjoy the doctors who help to take care of my health. Today's visit was just a regular check of my feet because I do have early stage diabetic induced neuropathy. This doctor, as usual, was very cheerful. He likes to kid. He checked my feet pulses. All good. Most of the time he ends up telling me how much better off I am compared to some of his other patients. He didn't today. He asked about my recent bout with gout. I told him it was no longer a problem but I would likely be taking the medications for the rest of my life. I mentioned how at first when they said the rest of my life, it sounded ominous. But, when I thought about it. Well, I'm going on 79 so the rest of my life is not as big a deal as it once was. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "Mr. Abbott, you are something else." Not exactly sure what that means but it almost sounded complimentary. I remember when I first started seeing him I mentioned that I thought it would be useful to do as much as I can to stave off any chopping off of my toes. He responded, "Let me tell you this. I've removed quite a few toes in my time and for the most part, the patients have done very well." He along with the other specialists usually hit me with the diet, exercise, and healthy living speech. I am blessed to have had a good long run as a diabetic. My diabetes is typically classified as being well controlled. I thought I could beat it altogether way back when I became one, but, alas, that was not to be, therefore, I am thankful for God's provision in this situation. A few weeks ago I had a follow up with my pulmonologist and upon seeing I had lost 25 pounds he told me I was now the skinniest Santa Claus he had ever treated. He got a big laugh out of that one. He may have even said, "Ho, Ho, Ho." I think it best that he concentrate more on his day job. Right?

 

A memory popped up. The one and only Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq. (2018 -2023)

At this time in my sojourn I typically see my primary care and four other specialists to help keep me going. Growing up, we saw a doctor. That's right. A doctor. It was much later in life that I began to hear the word specialist used. I'm not saying they were not around, it just wasn't on our radar screen at the time. For many years we saw the one doctor in the little village where we lived. We saw him until he retired. He often gave out the medication we needed at his office. He had been there a long time. He helped deliver some of my uncles and aunts. If we were bedridden with the flu he would come to our home to check on us. When he retired we had to find our medical care in a nearby town. Today, I have a great primary care physician but he will quickly hand off any issue that might require the consultation of a specialist. That is part of how the system works. And, that's why us older folks spend a lot of our time to and from appointments, tests, and procedures. I thought you might want to know that. Maybe not.

 

Yesterday we had an old people's gathering at our local assembly. We are now designated as Legacy. That replaces Sr. Adult. We gathered to eat, fellowship, and, to play Bingo. I did some eating. I did some fellowshipping. I did not play Bingo. We have a lady in our family who is a devout Catholic. I started to call her and ask if she had any Bingo tips for a Baptist gathering. She would have thought that to be funny because she has a great sense of humor. It was a really good time for the 100 plus of us who ventured out in the below freezing weather to be together. That's our table in the photo. I was an onlooker as the rest of the folks were keeping a close watch on where to put the next dried bean onto the Bingo card. I enjoyed watching them play. Here's the truth. Looking around that room I was struck by the sheer volume of wisdom represented. Lots of white hair on display. Lots of experience in those who for so many years have walked with the Lord. The guy sitting across from me is a fellow diabetic so we had plenty to talk about. He and his wife were previously in a bible study class I helped teach. Covid hit and we lost a number of our older members. The classes were reorganized and I now help to teach a different class, but, we are all still connected as part of the family. God's family. That's right, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. That relationship is the common denominator that allows us to enjoy our time together. Thanks be to God for our local assembly and the opportunity to love and be loved by His family. And, a special thanks to the Church staff for all the planning and coordination that made this event so special. The wife's dad was a preacher man and he often said this, "Now here's the thing." Quoting him, I tell you, here's the thing: Y'all have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday and may God add His blessings. Amen.