Telephone Poles

Every therapist that Christi is working with, and nearly every nurse that sees her mentions how far she has come.  "She is looking so good!" or "She is so much better!" are common responses.  She has come quite a long ways by nearly every estimation here.  I had a good chat with Christi's physical therapist, Nushka, today.  Nushka is a fantastic therapist, very perceptive, inventive, and driven.  We couldn't be more pleased with the care she gives Christi.  We talked today about how going forward it may not look like she is making much, if any, progress to people - maybe even to us if we are not careful.
The discussion started with a question about what kind of chairs, etc. would keep Christi in good positions.  Her point was that while there are many 'good positions,' the whole point is movement not status.  That struck a chord.
The truth is that Christi woke up from a coma over a month ago and still cannot walk a single step on her own, she can't roll over, sit up, say a single word, clap her hands, swallow reliably on command, etc., etc..  She could do all of those things with ease on May 12th.  As we are just about ready to be discharged and come home, I'm reminded that that is not the Christi anyone remembers.  The joke was, Christi spoke in church every week - but was never really formally asked to.  So we'll be focusing on "telephone poles."
As a runner who often leaves the house not knowing exactly how far or how hard I plan to run, telephone poles and other natural markers have become important to me.  They mark short sections of a course by which I can measure my progress.  They are better for me than mile markers or than thinking of the run as a whole, because I know I can push harder or hold better form - one telephone pole at a time.  I know it probably shouldn't work, but I have often told myself "just go hard to this next pole," felt relief and encouragement because it was so close - even though I knew with relative certainty that when I reached that pole I would just be setting a goal for the next one.  
Christi's progress has always been slower in physical things.  She was on a feeding tube until after her first birthday, she didn't crawl until around her 4th birthday, or walk till 5.  She has always continued progressing though.  Because she has, she has steadily outpaced all of the expectations that her doctors had for her. We have had many celebrations of "telephone poles" that would have otherwise been just routinely passed because of her.  So here are some of the the Christi's latest:
She can hold her head up nearly continuously for around 20 minutes.  She can successfully swallow a spoonful of applesauce in about 30 seconds to a minute.  She is able to tolerate a standing position and hold her own weight (supported) for over an hour, and she can tolerate over 3 hours of therapy in a row.
I am so proud of her!  I am also inspired by her.
I am grateful for the telephone poles that the Lord has placed along my path too.  As an adult, it has seems so easy to plateau.  The race is so long, and much of the scenery quite similar.   When I compare myself to the person I really should be - the person the Lord suffered and died for me to be able to become - I am a long way off.  So far off that it's discouraging to consider.  But what about just today?
Maybe I can be the loving and understanding husband my wife really deserves today.  That would be enough for now from here.  Then maybe over weeks, months, years and decades I can develop habits of doing those things and focus on other aspects of my life.
For me, daily goals are like telephone poles. Some of the most important growth the Lord has given me "line upon line" has come day by day by day.  Maybe those lines on the calendar separating the days are some of the "lines" He is referring to.  To be clear - He also says "grace to grace."  It is only with His help that any of us grow, and as the pioneers knew "grace shall be as your day."  I think that means that the Lord will strengthen us to meet the demands of the day and grow appropriately through them.  That's my testimony too.  I'm so glad He sent me a teacher and inspiration like Christi!