Showing posts with label daughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daughter. Show all posts

October 17, 2011

Thanks be to God - Bryan Norford

You may recall eastern Canada received heavy rain at the end of last week. Friday evening, our daughter Alex, was driving the highway from Montreal in heavy homeward bound traffic during darkness and heavy rain.

The film of water on the road built up under her front driving wheels, and the car began aquaplaning. She lost complete control of the vehicle, and it began spinning hitting the median a number of times before crossing the traffic lanes and stopping on the right parking lane.

Thankfully, she made contact with no other vehicles during her gyrations, and the car stayed upright. The engine was still running and automatically she pulled off the road. None of the following vehicles stopped—including her husband, following her a few cars behind!

In the rain swept darkness, he didn’t recognize the car at the side of the road. Alex watched him drive past. Whatever our attitude to modern technology, Alex was thankful that they both had i-phones; he returned in minutes.

The car sustained major bodywork damage; the passenger door was jammed, but Alex seemed to be alright. But her concern was the baby; she was halfway though her pregnancy. Very emotionally distressed, she called my wife Ann while waiting for the ambulance.

She was thankful that her four year-old son was with a friend, not with her in the car. But having a record of several miscarriages, she feared for the safety of this second son she was carrying. Ann prayed with Alex on the phone, praying protection through Psalm 91, and then called Alex’s sisters to pray also.

At the hospital, she had an ultrasound. The baby’s heart was strong, and he appeared to be doing a happy dance. An ultrasound on Alex’s torso found no internal bleeding; but the attending physician advised her to watch for any signs of latent damage.

Released from the hospital, relieved and thankful, she drove home with her husband and called us. She was feeling sore all over, bruised from the seat belt, and had a headache, but otherwise felt well.

Saturday, she posted on Facebook: incredibly teary eyed today. A very emotional 24 hours to say the least ... car accident, baby scare, offer on home, counter offer sent back ... all on the 37th birthday of this lady's life! I'm soooooo incredibly grateful!

Today, she is at her gynaecologist for further checks, but cautiously hopeful there is no hidden damage. But above all, we are thankful to God for the good news so far, and know we can trust Him for the future.

A fitting tribute to Thanksgiving week.





July 30, 2011

Give Thanks - In Everything?! - Ruth L. Snyder

A wail of sirens wakes me. "Lord, help those involved. Give the emergency workers wisdom." I wonder if my son, Levi, hears the sirens. Emergencies fascinate him. Suddenly I'm wide awake. My husband and four older children are on their way from camp to the horsemanship area a couple kilometers away. Are the emergency vehicles racing towards them?

A few hours before, I had shown the family camp speaker the book I was reading: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. We discussed the fact that many times we accept what we see as "good" things from God and then complain when we encounter "bad" things.

"Lord, help me to accept whatever you have allowed to happen.Give me the strength to praise you, no matter what."

A knock sounds at the door. "Come in."

My nephew enters the cabin. His face is flushed and he struggles to get the words out. "Auntie, there's been an accident." He gasps for breath. "I think everyone's O.K., but they're going to the hospital to get checked out."

Minutes later I gulp as my five family members stumble through the door, like dusty apparitions. Their faces are smudged with dirt. Clothes are torn and spattered with blood. There are tear trails down the sides of several faces. "We need you to take us to the hospital," my husband says.

A few minutes later we pass the remnants of the van they were in, then the tanker truck that hit the van and rolled it into the ditch. I hold my breath. I realize I have just witnessed a miracle. All nine occupants of the van are still alive. The worst injury is a broken leg. I think back to Ann's questions:
"What will I lose? Health? Comfort? Hope? Eventually, I am guaranteed to lose every earthly thing I have ever possessed...Who will I lose?...Am I prepared for that?..Does anyone whisper in the dead boy's house, 'God's grace'?
The Apostle Paul urges, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB)

Today I am thankful I still have a husband and all five of my children. Would I still be thankful if I was a widow? If my children were killed? My husband is moving a bit slower these days - he has a broken rib. Would I still be thankful if he was an invalid as a result of the accident? Will I choose to give thanks? In everything?

Ruth L. Snyder
Check out Ruth's blog on education matters at www.trusteesnyder.blogspot.com.
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