The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
February 24, 1995 began as any other day (thirteen years ago today). It was Friday and we made plans to go out for dinner with good friends that evening. Winter was nearing an end…and we were looking forward to a vacation in Hawaii soon. Life was good…there was so much to look forward to!
Our friends stopped by that evening, and we hopped into their car and headed towards town. We had a lot to talk about…and the last thing I recall of our conversation during that fateful ride were the words, “Look out , I don’t think he’s stopping!” I turned my head to the left and saw the headlights at the same moment as we were broadsided by a truck, which had failed to stop at the stop sign. The next few moments have replayed themselves in my mind in slow motion so many times over the years. After the initial impact our car became airborne, and a shower of thousands of tiny pieces of glass sailed through the air with us…illuminated by headlights and sparkling like a shower of stars. The car came to rest in a field and then all was deathly quiet.
Life changed for us at that moment! The following hours, days and weeks are something of a blur, but Elmer spent the next part of his life in the spinal cord unit of Vancouver General Hospital and came home in a body cast. It was a difficult time, but God was good! Today is an anniversary that I never forget...I remember to thank God for His goodness.
God hasn't promised skies that are always blue or a life without pain...but he has promised to give us strength for each day.
I do so remember that day in your lives, and the deep emotion felt by friends, .....and look back to our family's history of a similar day...God is good and every day is a reminder of that, even when we do not understand the meaning in the events of our lives that appear to be negatively impacting! Thinking of you on this day....Elma
ReplyDelete0h wow, how well I remember the call that night from Janice telling us what happened. We packed up and left in the morning. It was so difficult seeing Elmer in the Spinal Cord unit. We are reminded so often of the miracl in his life. Whenever we are in the Frazer Valley crossing Prest Rd and Prarie Central we drive rather slowly, as we thank God no one was killed that evening. Martha
ReplyDeleteI sure understand where you are coming from. Hold on to those milestones and celebrate God's goodness.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing about the incident and to this day I don't know why I didn't respond to you........
Oh well, I'm glad we've connected again and move along in our joys and sorrows.
Oh Judy. . .here is another thing I never knew.
ReplyDeleteI praise God with you today and marvel at how this day must feel .. . I'm sure that you must have so many emotions in remembering.
Oh my! I know that there is a lot of story left between those lines. You describe the accident almost poetically. Was everyone hurt or was Elmer the one most affected? God is certainly good to have brought you all through!
ReplyDelete(Is that beautiful header a moon shot that you did? I have moon shot envy.)
I, too, remember that day very well - and for the only time in my life was so thankful that no one had called to let me know immediately because I was dealing with having to interpret to Spanish the funeral of Shirley, the beloved founder and director of the children's home, so that our large "family" of children and staff would understand what was said. Every time I see Elmer I marvel at how well he stands and walks! It truly is a miracle!
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