“The wounds I received, I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will have a full recovery.” ~ Jason Redman, Navy SEAL (shot eight times in Fallujah, Iraq)
Attitude Toward Recovery
Jason’s wounds were so severe that he had to undergo 37 surgeries! Here’s the rest of what he put on the door of his room at Bethesda Naval Hospital: “My hospital room is a place of ‘fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, GO ELSEWHERE.” He signed it, “the management.”
Jason decided to put his best efforts toward something he loved and believed in, and was hurt doing it. We each gave ourselves and our best efforts to our marriages and we, too, got hurt. Is our attitude like Jason’s? Do we really believe full recovery is in our future? Do we have the attitude that our lives will be a place of “fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth”?
Be Brave
Each of us can be as brave as this Navy SEAL. Let’s decide to not waste anymore time (than is necessary) mourning what was lost, feeling sorry for ourselves and wallowing in self-pity as we cope with divorce. It is a terrible reality that we fought for our marriages, and lost.. and were deeply wounded in the process. But it is our choice now to be brave enough to move forward. Let’s create for ourselves a life of “fun, optimism and intense rapid regrowth,” from here on out.
Future Vision
A couple of nights ago, the women in a RADiCAL support group worked on their Life Vision statements, and it was an exhilarating experience to witness. Their Vision Pages had inspirational quotes and motivational pictures of what the women wanted in their future: beach vacations, gardens, family gatherings, parties, healthy bodies, fun, sex, dance classes, master’s degrees, new careers and to use their gifts. Here are a few of the vision statements they created:
- “To approach life in spirit, faith and love.”
- “To take everything I’ve been and everything I’m becoming to serve God and help others.”
- “Living my life to glorify God.”
- “To use my one wild, precious, life to shine God’s light.”
I was so inspired by the RADiCAL women that I decided to create my own Vision Page as well. I think Jason Redman would have been proud of us. We each planned one concrete step to move us toward making the vision on our pages come true. That’s part of the fun, optimism and intense rapid recovery that Jason’s doing and that RADiCAL women are doing, too!
God says, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)
