"What is your pain level today?"

This is the question that the nursing staff would ask Mike McClard.

It was during these days leading up to the "re-surgery" of the left knee that Mike answered the nursing staff concerning his pain level, "It is a 10!" Previously, Mike, would have classified the worst pain that he experienced  as a 6 or at the most, 7.  However, now it was a 10!

This is not the first time that Mike has had to deal with pain.  He has "been to" 10 before.  Several years ago, while barbequing in his yard, Mike decided to increase the fire on his grill.  Unfortunately, the fumes from the fuel used exploded and blew back onto Mike so that his shirt was literally burned off aand onto his skin. 

Mike ran into the house where he was tackled by his brother-in-law who rolled him on the floor and literally had his own shirt burned off as he smothered the flames coming off Mike's body.

Mike was rushed to the hospital and for 30 days he walked through pain--excruciating pain--as the workers would carefully "debride" the dead or blackened skin from his body.  This was done in what is called a "sitz" bath.  I am sure Mike felt that his pain went beyond "10" on those occasions.  Often he would simply have to cry out as a result of the pain.

I visited with Mike today (Wednesday, November 18) and listened to all that the Lord was showing him.  He was sitting in an easy chair, his hair a little disheveled (unusual for Mike), wearing his Maize "eagles" t-shirt, and his legs were covered with a blanket.  Mike was reading from Psalm 50 when I walked in.

Mike expressed how humbled he has felt and how appreciative he has felt for all the phone calls, the prayers, the visits, and the cards that he has received.  Mike is usually the one visiting others.  This time he has had to be the receiver.  Mike was thankful.  He was thankful to God.  He had a smile on his face, a few tears in his eye as he shared his heart with words of gratitude to our Lord for His goodness to him and Judy, his precious wife and faithful helper in this time of need.  There was no self-pity.  There was joy in his heart and in his voice.

Our time together went fast. I prayed for Mike and Judy; and as normal, Mike prayed for me and gave thanks to the Lord for His goodness.

"Mike, how is your pain level?"

"Other than the pain and swelling, I am doing great!"

Now that is what I all an attitude of gratitude.  So now  you know the rest of the story--the tale of Mike's two knees and his thankful heart.