To My Dear Right Arm,

Thank you for staying beside me all these years. Now I realize more than ever that YOU really are my right arm, both literally and figuratively! I know I have taken you for granted. I can only imagine the emotional pain that I have caused you by not saying thank you for the services you have provided me. For instance, you are an amazing brusher. You have taken care of my hair and my teeth like they were your very own. Thank you.

You also are a star wiper. You have wiped up many messes from the spills that my family and I have created. You are great at wiping counters. And while I am mentioning it, there is something else that I won’t mention that you excel at wiping. Blush… Oh, how I miss you! Life is full of challenges without you. Actually, it’s downright hard.

You have waved hello to people, placed your right hand over my heart as I have pledged allegiance to the American flag, and even on one desperate occasion aided me in hitchhiking down the Rock of Gibraltar. I could not have stuck my right thumb out without you.

You have allowed me to cook, which I have never held against you. You have been essential in making my bed, something I have not done in almost 10 weeks since I broke your shoulder. Have I told you I’m sorry for fancying myself an athlete, even for such a brief time? I am sorry. It hurts to think about that day when I came crashing down on your shoulder. What was I thinking!

You mean so much to me! My left hand misses coordinating with you, especially the simple tasks of typing and cutting my own food. There is a long list of things that you have championed for me, which have been suffering while you heal. Drying my hair, changing my clothes, driving, doing laundry, filling the birdfeeders, shuffling cards, signing my name, scratching my left arm, zipping zippers, working in the garden, and mostly the two-armed hug.

Hang in there though! Don’t be discouraged! God is working during this time and showing your owner the beauty of slowing down and asking for help. He has prompted friends to come along side and has increased a loving attitude of service in my husband, which has always been there, but has never had to be used to this degree.

Your doctor says you can start making yourself useful again in a couple weeks. That is something to be excited about. Plus, I am taking you to England for a holiday along with my hubby, son and his family. We will have a jolly good time. That is definitely something to look forward to. Keep being a patient and cooperative patient and before you know it you will be holding a cup of tea whilst across the pond. Not a big cup, mind you, but don’t worry, your left hand will help you.

In the meantime, I will keep a closer eye on what my left hand is doing. She tends to be careless. She thinks she’s as good as you are and she clearly is not, as evidenced by these seven heating pads that arrived from Amazon today. Maybe when you are better, you can help me return six of them.