My Bruises Make For Better Conversation

No persons were harmed in the making of this photo.... THIS photo.... the real thing is a different story....

Six months ago, my friend Brittany and I were getting on a boda (motorcycle taxi). I was in a skirt, so I needed to ride sidesaddle to be culturally appropriate. When we took off, I could tell I was going to fall off. I chose to jump instead of attempt to stay on the boda. I knew if I tried to stay on, I would only cause more damage! So I decided to jump. I landed on my feet, and it was no big deal. Elegance. Grace. Class. Three things that did NOT happen today!
Once again, Brittany is in town and we were on a boda. This time, she was in the skirt, but when she tried to ride sidesaddle, the boda man made her "sit properly". When it came time to get off, Brittany wanted me, who was sandwiched between Brittany the boda man who sat on my lap the whole ride, to get off first so she would have more room to modestly get off the machine. I was grateful I was not the one in a skirt because I cannot do anything smoothly! Usually when I get off a boda, I will balance myself on one leg, and swing the other around the seat as I pivot my body. I am a klutz. Balance and staying on my feet has never been my thing. Well, today,  I had nowhere to swing my leg or pivot. None of this occurred to me, until it was too late. I didn't give myself enough space to pull my leg out from the other side of the boda. I began hopping backwards on my left foot, as I tried to pull my right foot over someone's head... or something... anything to get it free, and be able to stand like a normal human being. That was too much for my poor little body could take! I began to fall. Brittany tried desperately to help, but it only knocked me down faster! As my right foot came toppling over, my shoe flew off and my pink toes were shining bright for all the world to see. I tried to catch myself with my hands, but the hard fall onto the asphalt burst the blood vessel in the palm of my hand leaving me an instant bruise and swelling. And as time goes on, I do notice other bruises from a hard fall that left me on my back.
I just laughed it off. I mean, I am use to falling. I once fell off a twenty foot cliff. If there was a champion faller (yes, I made that up), I would be queen -- and maybe emperor! It could have been so much worse. The boda could have been in motion. I could have been trying to balance myself on my right ankle, of which I have majorly sprained multiple times and is very weak. I could have gracefully got off the boda, and I would not have an awesome funny story to share with friends.
Sometimes, things happen. They do not happen how we hoped or expected. We have two options. One, we can become bitter. Things did not happen how we planned, and either we messed up or someone messed it up for us. However the situation was envisioned was the obvious choice in our minds, and now that it cannot happen that way, our pride is hurt. Two, we can embrace it! Life happens, and sometimes we fall on our backs. For some of us, this is literal. If we embrace that fall, God can use those moments to speak truth into our lives. He teaches us where we are weak, and shows us how He will strengthen that within us.
I took away many lessons from today. I need to always remember to let things go, including my pride, which causes the most damage. Also, I need to stop getting on a boda with Brittany -- It only ends in disaster!