"Life Happens," they say. Catastrophes happen, too.
Fears we stuff down during the day haunt us at 2 a.m. Questions like, If that were true for me, could I handle it?
That's on my mind because of what happened to friends I'll call John and Mary. These two were driving home from vacation on a summer day. No speeding. No alcohol or drugs. Suddenly their car spun out of control on a curve and slammed into a highway guard-rail. Most of the impact was on the right-front corner of their new SUV.
Mary's side.
John walked away. Mary was helicoptered to the nearest trauma center. Doctors could not repair her mangled legs and amputated both of them below the knee.
Mary's life will never be the same. Neither will John's.
Like so many other friends I'm praying God's healing and comfort. Courage, too, for both of them, every day.
Courageous people seldom see themselves as heroes
For another wonderful couple I know, let's call them Jim and Jenny, this scenario is familiar territory. When she was a young mother Jenny contracted a type of flesh-eating bacteria.
Doctors gave them a choice: Her legs or her life. They chose life.
Surgeons severed her legs well above the infected area, up to her knees. Since then Jenny's prosthetic legs and her walker have been her best buddies. Together this young couple coped, reared their children and made a warm, loving family life.
When asked individually how they got through it, each one said something like, "Well, we knew God wouldn't give us more than we could handle. So we just prayed and kept going."
Tragedy strips away pretenses
After years of happy marriage, Mary and John face the same kind of challenges as they adjust to this new reality. John reports that Mary already is receiving physical therapy. She already can transfer herself from the bed to a wheelchair and will be fitted with prosthetics. After transfer to a long-term rehab facility in another city she's amazing therapists. They predict she'll be walking and driving within six months.
John thanked friends for their support and prayers, then closes his update with this sentence:
"Our lives have changed but we will move forward doing what we want to do in a different way."
When everything else falls away, it's what's inside that counts
Jesus talks about that in Luke 6:45:
Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
My friends have an inner reserve on which they draw.
If we continually put the Good Stuff in it's like "filling our tanks," a reserve of courage beyond our own. Then we'll be ready for every day, whatever it brings.
I've found it helpful to underline Bible verses that speak to my heart so I can find them more easily. Verses like these remind me I'm not alone.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. --2 Corinthians 4:7-9
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. --Isaiah 41:10
As you read your Bible mark verses you love. Think of them as your internal armor (Ephesians 6:10-18.)
Then when the what ifs come in the night, repeat them and let them balm away your fears. Peace, be still.
Love,
Lenore
