What should I do about Christmas?

[Neostarwcc]

So it took over 5 weeks but my legs are finally getting stronger. I'm now able to do most things but I need to do it very slowly. It might take me until Feburary to fully recover depending on how quickly this goes (it's been going very slowly for a while now)

Anyway, I'll get down to the problem. Christmas is a week and two days away and my Elder has been getting on my case about attending Christmas and seeing me then si ce he hasn't seen me in over a month and regularly every week since June. He knows about my lithium poisoning I told him the morning after I got out of the Emergency Room. I last saw him maybe a couple Sundays before then?

Anyway I told him I'd go if my legs are feeling even remotely better but I feel under heavy pressure to go. In a week I don't know how much they can heal I don't want to tell him ill go and then not show up you know? And his service this Christmas will be at 7 pm I'm normally in bed by then and if we went my wife and I probably wouldn't get home until 10:00. I've never been up that late in a long time now.

But, I'm also as eager as Larry to want to go. I want to tell him I'll be there because I miss him probably more than he misses me. It also depends on if we get snowed in aon Xmas as well because we have a little over an hour drive to even get to Churc hWhat should I say to him? I don't want to make it sound like I don't want to go and at the same time I don't want to make an empty promise. I mean,I haven't been walking in over 5 weeks now and I just started improving, what are the odds I'll be able to go? *sigh* I just don't know. I feel massively pressured to get better because I really, really want to go. I've never been to a Christmas service I'm my entire life and he really misses me. *sigh*

 

[eleos1954]

So it took over 5 weeks but my legs are finally getting stronger. I'm now able to do most things but I need to do it very slowly. It might take me until Feburary to fully recover depending on how quickly this goes (it's been going very slowly for a while now)

Anyway, I'll get down to the problem. Christmas is a week and two days away and my Elder has been getting on my case about attending Christmas and seeing me then si ce he hasn't seen me in over a month and regularly every week since June. He knows about my lithium poisoning I told him the morning after I got out of the Emergency Room. I last saw him maybe a couple Sundays before then?

Anyway I told him I'd go if my legs are feeling even remotely better but I feel under heavy pressure to go. In a week I don't know how much they can heal I don't want to tell him ill go and then not show up you know? And his service this Christmas will be at 7 pm I'm normally in bed by then and if we went my wife and I probably wouldn't get home until 10:00. I've never been up that late in a long time now.

But, I'm also as eager as Larry to want to go. I want to tell him I'll be there because I miss him probably more than he misses me. It also depends on if we get snowed in aon Xmas as well because we have a little over an hour drive to even get to Churc hWhat should I say to him? I don't want to make it sound like I don't want to go and at the same time I don't want to make an empty promise. I mean,I haven't been walking in over 5 weeks now and I just started improving, what are the odds I'll be able to go? *sigh* I just don't know. I feel massively pressured to get better because I really, really want to go. I've never been to a Christmas service I'm my entire life and he really misses me. *sigh*

well ... if for some reason you are unable to walk under your own accord ... access to a wheel chair?

 

[BobRyan]

So it took over 5 weeks but my legs are finally getting stronger. I'm now able to do most things but I need to do it very slowly. It might take me until Feburary to fully recover depending on how quickly this goes (it's been going very slowly for a while now)

Anyway, I'll get down to the problem. Christmas is a week and two days away and my Elder has been getting on my case about attending Christmas and seeing me then si ce he hasn't seen me in over a month and regularly every week since June. He knows about my lithium poisoning I told him the morning after I got out of the Emergency Room. I last saw him maybe a couple Sundays before then?

Anyway I told him I'd go if my legs are feeling even remotely better but I feel under heavy pressure to go. In a week I don't know how much they can heal I don't want to tell him ill go and then not show up you know? And his service this Christmas will be at 7 pm I'm normally in bed by then and if we went my wife and I probably wouldn't get home until 10:00. I've never been up that late in a long time now.

#1. Health is first.
#2. IF this were a case where you personally were going to be evangelizing the lost or feeding the hungry at Christmas who would go hungry if you did not show up - then a sacrifice of health to some degree might be justified - but I don't see any of that in your post.
#3. Focus on the first Advent of Christ in your home if you cannot reasonable and safely be in church ... I keep pointing to the commentary on the life of Christ that goes into great detail regarding events leading up to the birth of Christ - as well as His entire life.

So then beginning with this chapter "God with us"
The Desire of Ages

I want to tell him I'll be there because I miss him probably more than he misses me.

Well you could make it "I would LIKE to be there because I miss him probably more than he misses me." and let him know that -- but don't compromise common sense and safety solely due to a heavy marketing campaign (so to speak). His love for you as a Christian brother would lead him to not want you putting yourself at risk.

 

[Albion]

You told the elder that you'd be there if your health were such that you could.

There's no reason for you to repeat that, explain it further, accept any pressure to change your mind, apologize, or etc. You conveyed the absolute truth to the man and now you are the one who alone can decide, in a week or so, if you are physically able to attend.

 

[messianist]

More importantly where does God want you at that time? If it’s at the service you will be there, if it’s resting up at home then that’s where you will be.


Pray on it cast your cares on him, ask your elder to pray on it with you too,

like other people have said, you can only explain your circumstances to your elder and what will be will be , you can’t do more than that .

I hop you start to feel better soon and get your strength back in your legs.

 

[Tolworth John]

my Elder has been getting on my case about attending Christmas

How often has this ' elder ' visited you in hospital or at home?
If it has not been weekly, te.l him you will attend church when you are fit enough, until then you will continue you watch the service online.

If they cannot broadcast the service ask why and ask how they minister to the house bound etc.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

my Elder has been getting on my case about attending

The Elder should serve you. Somehow this does not sound very loving to me.
I hope you figure this out. Blessings

 

[Sketcher]

Anyway I told him I'd go if my legs are feeling even remotely better but I feel under heavy pressure to go.

Don't feel pressured. I don't know of any church Christmas service that needs an RSVP.

And his service this Christmas will be at 7 pm I'm normally in bed by then and if we went my wife and I probably wouldn't get home until 10:00. I've never been up that late in a long time now.

Make a plan for going there and back again safely, to be activated if you are feeling up to it that day - preferably that doesn't involve other people since this is dependent on how you are feeling, which you can't predict.

And watching the service, if it is streamed, should be your backup plan.

But, I'm also as eager as Larry to want to go. I want to tell him I'll be there because I miss him probably more than he misses me. It also depends on if we get snowed in aon Xmas as well because we have a little over an hour drive to even get to Churc hWhat should I say to him?

You've said enough already.

 

[Martinius]

I am sorry for you if the Elder does not understand or appreciate your condition. I would expect that he or someone else from your church would come to YOU, on Christmas Eve, Day or soon after. I had a serious illness and surgery a few years back and not only did I get visits in the hospital but also at home. One visit occurred when I was still unconscious after my surgery, but my wife was there. I did make a point of thanking him later, since she was much more stressed than I was at that moment.

So talk to this Elder again, and perhaps seek out someone else with a little more compassion.

 

[timf]

I feel massively pressured

For Christians there are two forces at work, the Spirit and the flesh (Galatians chapter five)

Being bullied by someone else or even pushing yourself usually indicates a problem with the flesh.