Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: JOY (10/28/21)
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TITLE: The Accident | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
11/03/21 -
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As I went through the day, I kept humming this catchy little tune I heard on the radio that morning. I truly was filled with joy. It had been a good week, a fun week even. Just myself and my husband enjoying the week together.
Paul was in seminary preparing for the ministry. I was working full-time to support the family. Our two boys were 2 hours away spending the week with their grandparents on the farm.
They were having a blast.
Life was good.
But one phone call was about to change my day from joy to anxiety. My faith was about to be tested - big time.
Work ended at 4:30. At 4:20 I received a phone call from my mom saying there had been an accident and I needed to come home immediately. Our 5 year old son had been run over by a farm tractor and was in the hospital.
What? How did this happen? The boys were told NOT to go near any farm equipment while staying with their grandparents.
My world just turned upside down.
The year was 1970, days before cell-phones. Paul was in Indiana doing ministry. I had no way to reach my husband and had no way to get home to Freeport from Chicago. Frantically I called a good friend and explained the situation. Harry gladly offered to take me home. Paul would hear the news when he returned from his time of ministry - five hours later.
The two hour drive to Freeport seemed like an eternity.
My prayers were filed with tears and anxiety sprinkled with a generous amount of faith. I prayed for our son, for my husband, for those taking care of Dennis.
Two hours later I arrived at the hospital. Because Dennis was losing blood, he needed to be in surgery. Minutes before my arrival he had been whisked off to the operating room.
I had missed seeing my son. Wasn’t able to kiss his soft cheek. Couldn’t assure him everything would be okay, now that mom was here.
All I could do was wait, and pray.
With family around me, the song from this morning continued to warm my heart.
“I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.”
God seemed to be reminding me that even in the midst of this tragic situation, there could be joy. I simply needed to exercise my faith and trust in Jehovah Rapha to do what he would for our son. Indeed, God was the Great Physician.
At midnight Paul arrived. Together we wept, prayed, and trusted our God whom we were planning to serve full-time. A half-hour later the doctor appeared and said, “I have done all I can for your son. Now we will have to wait until morning to see how he responds. You may see him in ICU.”
Joy?
Yes, joy. In a good doctor, in a good hospital. Joy that Dennis made it this far.
A long, anxious night was spent by all, but I stayed at the side of my son throughout the night, praying that God would have his perfect will in the life of Dennis. “God you have blessed us with this boy for 5 years. I thank you for every moment with him. If you choose to take him home to be with you, he has brought joy to our hearts for the days we have had him, now I release him to you.”
Morning came. The Doctor arrived and checked on Dennis. When he came out of ICU he had a smile on his face….
A promising sign?
“I never thought I would see our boy looking this good this morning,” Dr. Loucious beamed. “He is doing very well.”
My response to this doctor was, “He has had a lot of people praying for him. God is answering those prayers.”
Dennis made a miraculous recovery and seven days later he walked out of the hospital. As he left, the doctor said to us, “We have named him ‘The Miracle Boy’ as we never expected him to recover as he has.”
Indeed, a miracle had happened.
Dennis went on to make a complete recovery without any lingering affects from his ordeal. Today he is the father of three and a vibrant man of God who finds joy in serving his God.
God delights in bringing joy.
This is a story of non-fiction.
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