This morning I was standing in the shower when something occurred to me. My bum knee had not caused me pain in over two months. This was a huge deal. After an injury in boot camp, my right knee had caused me pain off and on for almost twenty years now. Walking long distances was hard, running impossible, and if I was going on a long drive I better have cruise control or I’d be limping for days. The knee had bothered me sporadically for forever, but after I began working full time again I noticed an increase in the pain. It started to become daily, and that was when the idea of filing VA disability came to mind.
Despite the societal prejudices against people on disability, I personally felt it was a good thing when warranted. In fact, when I was separating from the service and went through a class on VA disability I had convinced my mother, a veteran, to apply. The extra funds were a huge blessing for my family and for my mother a former RN who was no longer able to work. My father, he’s also on disability. He served his country and I’ve heard the horror stories that haunt him still from his time active duty. I watched him break his back (literally) working swing shift in a factory for 25 years. I saw him persevere through back surgery and knee surgeries and still keep working. He’s now on disability after years of physical labor, and if anyone deserves it I believe he does. But this isn’t about who I think deserves disability. It’s about choosing disability over God’s ability. Something you see often.
Months ago when I began to consider a disability claim, naturally I prayed about it. I sought the Lord for the best direction.
I prayed, “Lord, is this something I need to do? Honestly, I’d rather have your healing over money.”