Thursday, February 10, 2011

A CONCUSSION OF FORGIVENESS

"Mom, don’t worry, but…"

No good conversation comes from that beginning.

This phone call from my youngest son came on a quiet, peaceful Saturday afternoon around 5 o’clock.

I braced myself –

"…but you might want to come to the hospital. B (my oldest) fell off a ladder. He’s OK, but I thought you might want to be here."

I drove as calmly as I could to the hospital, thirty minutes away where they lived.

I rushed into the emergency room, told them who I was, and soon (though not soon enough), someone came to escort me to where my son was.

Upon arriving, I found out that B had broken his wrist. And though he was alert, I soon realized that all was not well…

B kept repeating the same questions over and over again.

"Where am I?" – You’re at the hospital.

"What happened?" – You fell off a ladder.

"Which ladder?" – The orange one.

"What’s wrong with me?" – You broke your wrist.

Thirty seconds later – the exact same thing. It was quickly very apparent that B was not thinking clearly – that he had some sort of head injury.

I turned to my youngest, "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because," he said quietly, "I wanted you to drive safely."

Over the next couple hours, we realized that B’s short-term memory was not functioning. He couldn't retain a thought past a minute or so. And he had lost about six months of his long-term memories. I asked the doctor if they would come back – he said, probably...

...but he wasn’t sure.

We tried to "casually" talk about things that had happened over the last few months. Some things he didn’t remember were OK – like how we got to tell him over and over how he was getting a tax refund – followed by a big smile, like it was "new" news each of the 30 times we said it. Other things were sad – he teared up a couple of times, saying, "I wish I could remember that. I would have liked that memory."

It was especially awful to have to tell him numerous times that his wrist was shattered and he had a pretty severe concussion. I hated watching him try to process that shock, only to see it happen again within a minute.

We finally left the hospital about four hours later. B’s memory had slowly begun to return – starting about six months out – and then gradually backing up until a day or two before the accident.

When we returned home, his dad and I started to change his clothes. I said something to him, "Do you know why you have a sling on?"

He turned to me like I was crazy and said, "Well, yeah, Mom. I broke my wrist and I’ve got a really bad concussion. Duh…"

My heart thrilled – my spirit cheered. He was back.

To this day, he can’t remember about one hour before he fell, and nothing about the hospital at all (including the cute nurse that came to give him a tetanus shot!!) – but he’s just fine (although it required surgery and weeks of physical therapy to repair his shattered wrist).

It was difficult to have this interruption in our lives.

But something else happened on that day.

What we called an "interruption" was really God’s divine "intervention."

He had a greater purpose to accomplish.

Prior to this accident, there had been a "falling out" in our family. Disagreement, tension, anger, regrettable words - one of those things where people weren’t really speaking to each other.

I wasn’t sure if something basic had changed in us.

Were we going to be one of those families where people didn’t talk to each other for 20 years? I didn’t think so, but my heart grieved

And yet, in that emergency room, all our differences faded – and we realized what really matteredeach other. Bonded by fear and uncertainty, we put aside what didn’t matter, and held on to what did.

Forgiveness.

I was so reminded of Joseph – whose brothers sold him into slavery. I’m sure that he was stunned by this "interruption" in his life.

But God had other plans.

And when all was said and done, Joseph was able to say to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good."

God took my family’s terrible moment, an unforeseeable accident – a harmful thing – and worked it for His purpose.

God brought forgiveness out of pain.

Just like He did on the cross of Jesus – forgiveness out of pain. Good out of suffering. Reconciliation out of tragedy. Redemption out of death.

Life interruption – or Divine intervention?

You decide.

But I know what God did in that emergency room – and it was for good.


I’m going to trust Him.


"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
(Romans 8:28)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

11 comments:

  1. How wonderful! He is always with us and for
    us. Such a thrilling story of recovery!
    My son always starts his bad news (and it's
    not even always that bad)with "Now don't freak
    out, Mom, but..."

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  2. I love the line "Life Interruption or Divine Intervention". Kind of says it all, doesn't it?
    Wow. How many times do I hate interruptions? I would be so much better off if I got my mind off of myself and my "problems" that are just interruptions...and see them as Divine Interventions. That requires faith...since we don't know God's mind. It's good to be reminded of that reality, though.

    Thank you, Sharon
    Shay :)

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  3. Funny, I was just whining about being interrupted every time I try to chisel out some of my own plans.

    Then, I read this.
    I think I might have just gotten another one of those spiritual smackdowns. Sigh.

    Perhaps I should rethink the interruptions with the backdrop of the sovereignty of God. Ya think?

    I'm glad your son is OK. At first, I thought this might be a contemporary story.

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  4. first...I'm so glad your son is back...and that you see what happened as something God turned around for good..Also I could never think of you not talking to your child for twenty years. Your heart is the best...

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  5. Glad he was okay - with his life interruption - I get a lot of those.

    Love,
    sandie

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  6. Sharon, I'm praising God for His protection and healing over your son. You had me sitting on the edge! This is a great post. What a blessing in so many ways.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  7. Sharon:

    I totally understand. If I forget and offer you another one, please forgive me ahead of time. Just wanted you to know how much your blog blesses others.

    Hugs,
    andrea

    PS: Thanks so much for your sweet comments on Arise 2 Write. Look forward to being Mtn. neighbors one day whether on this earth or in heaven!

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  8. Hi Sharon -

    Thank you for this wise reminder about forgiveness.

    Our Lord commands that we forgive - how many times was that?

    May GOD help us all to be willing and obedient to that which He commands us. All of GOD'S instructions are for our profit - for His glory!

    Sidebar: I posted 7 UPS QUIZUPS #10 today.

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  9. Sandy - My sons do that, too. It helps, but you always freak out just a LITTLE bit when they add, but... :) Yes, this was a thrilling recovery, and God was with our family that night.

    Shay - I haven't learned this lesson yet. I'm working on it. Changing my perspective on "interruptions" - learning to trust the fact that God knows EVERYTHING that has and will happen in my life. He is NOT surprised by my calendar!

    Debbie - I like the phrase "the backdrop of the sovereignty of God." That really made an impression on me. And I'm just noticing that in the middle of that word is the word "reign." Does God REALLY and TRULY reign in my life? Lord, that's what I want - help me.

    Sarah - Oh, yes, it was really great when my son "returned!" And forgiveness was such an added blessing. I was afraid that my family wasn't going to talk to ME - but God worked in all of our hearts that night. I'm so grateful.

    Sandie - Yup, and do you find that as we get older, it's a lot harder to deal with interruptions? I guess I need to learn to grow in grace, and continue to yield MY will to HIS!!

    Mary - Thanks. It still make me a little anxious when I remember that night. But my heart celebrates at God's faithful work in our lives - even in the "bad stuff."

    Andrea - Thanks so much! And I look forward to being mountain neighbors - in this life or the next!! Keep looking up to the One who stands sure and strong - who stands tall like the mountains He made!

    Sandra - Many, many times, the Lord said! Willing and obedient - both things that I pray for in my life. I was reminded of this verse from Philippians:
    "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
    (I'll be over in a bit to do 7 Ups...)

    Thanks for stopping by, my friends. I heard someone say the other day:
    "Want to know how to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans!"

    It's true, every day of our lives was written before we were even born, and it's just a matter of trust - letting go and letting God bring into every day His perfect purposes.

    GOD BLESS!

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  10. Yes, Yes, Yes...we have had a lot of those life interruptions that I am believing God will use as His intervention. The phone calls, the hours afterwards and during...very hard, was God still there and working? YES!!
    Good, good post...I will file it away in my head, I am sure we will have more in the future since we have six kids.

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  11. Janette - Nothing spells "TRUST" for me like having kids!! I'm with you - learning to look to God, trusting that life's "interruptions" really come from Him - and that they are "interventions" with a good purpose. Very hard, indeed. But to whom else shall we turn, right?! Thanks for stopping by.

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)