Forgiveness And Second Chances

We survived a summer of trials, heartache and eventually greater joy. In June, one of my step children was in a serious motorcycle accident — a week after her high school graduation and only two days after our move to a new home. What was to be “a new chapter,” became a season of brokenness and uncertainty. We began our marathon … an arduous spiritual journey.

We all tell ourselves, “It happens to other families … not ours.” It happened to ours. We faced a litany of challenges during those first few weeks in the neuro ICU. You can imagine the exhaustion and tension as our broken family kept a 24×7 bedside vigil for our child in a 12×12’ hospital room … “together.” The burdens and emotions spilled over into every area of our lives. Through it all, our constants were grace and hope.

In the days immediately following the accident, a physician told my husband that his daughter would never recover. Sitting alone in the dark, in a moment so silent I only heard my breathing, God spoke to me. In the instant I shared that encounter with my husband, we began to recognize and experience the fierce love of God the warrior, the healing spirit of God the doctor and the rest and peace of God the comforter. We gained a deeper understanding of His miraculous mercies and Living Hope. We moved forward inch by inch, minute by minute. Daily putting one foot in front of the other, those minutes turned into hours and days and months. Today, we find ourselves “on the other side” … we are the over-comers.

She comes home from the rehab facility next week. This child is an amazing testimony to His healing that doctors cannot explain. She is a walking miracle from God. We are a bit worse for wear after these long months in the hospital and rehab facility. However, we are grateful beyond words to our supporting cast and we continue to experience the faithfulness of our great God like never before.

We are forever changed. With all the challenges that come from a tragedy in the midst of the brokenness of a family, there is also healing – emotional and physical. Hearts begin to soften and there is restoration of relationships.

From the day of the accident, we held fast to the promise that God would use the entire situation for His glory. He continually provides opportunities to share our journey of faith and to witness about the healing miracle He performed in our child … the healing continues.

Through seasons of brokenness, He reminds us that He is the God of forgiveness and second chances.