80 ~ The Ball

By Kay Heitsch

My hands, etc, were not getting any better even though I had given up the jewelry rep job. Now, just trying to hold a book or turning a page hurts. Bill said I was crying in my sleep in pain.

I took some over-the-counter pain pills, but they didn't seem to help. I began praying regularly that God would help me.

One day, I was surprised when a box arrived at our home. It was addressed to me, but I hadn't ordered anything. I asked Bill if he knew anything about it.

Bill said he had ordered it. It was an exercise ball. My enthusiastic response was, "What? Who is going to be using an exercise ball?"

To be honest, I was irritated. First, I had stayed about the same size all our married life. I didn't need to lose weight. I was working and walking with Cindy. What did he think I needed with an exercise ball?

This ball stayed in the box for some time. I kept praying about my hands, wrists, shoulders, and elbows.

One fine day, I decided to open the box. I'm a frugal person, and I didn't want to see money wasted.

There was a device designed to inflate the ball. Plus, a couple of videos. I blew the ball up and put the video in. It was fun.

I started to use the ball regularly. There were stretching exercises. The more I stretch, I begin to feel a release starting in my shoulder, then moving down my arm to my hands. I couldn't believe it.

I continued working out on the ball. After several months, my pain was gone entirely. I called the number on the box and let them know. I was healed! Plus, I went from a size 6 to a 4.

To this very day, I still stretch and exercise on this ball. The pain has never returned.

I never dreamed this exercise ball would be the answer to my prayer, but it certainly was.

Once again, God turned my pain into something good, a complete healing.80 ~ The Ball