God's Grace for Graham

Preview

When the vehicle finally came to a stop, my dumbfounded friends crept out of the wreckage without major injuries. Praise God! They instantly began frantically looking for me, not grasping I was wedged in the car unconscious. I frequently reflect back to that day and I speculate what would have happened if – if- but I realize this is just wishful thinking and it will not change anything. Besides, I have no recollection of that day or what I could or would have done to change any part of it.

There are interims when we have no control over what happens to us minute by minute; everything can change in that minute or even in a second. No one is promised tomorrow, or even today or even this hour or minute or second. Pastor Rob had addressed this very message on more than a few occasions. I regret not paying extra attention. There is wisdom in scripture. Do we always pay attention? I did not.

That was the Sunday my mother received the phone call which would cause any mother to chill to the bone. “Nellie, there’s been an accident. We think it’s our kids.”

For twelve agonizing days, the doctors did not give my family a great deal of hope. My parents were told I could possibly live as a vegetable. Their eyes met as if to read the other’s mind. Their views were instantaneously known to the other without uttering a word.

My dad, very softly but determined, answered, “You do everything you can for my son and let God take care of the rest.” I knew my parents had enduring patience, a virtue I sadly did not inherit. Mom, Dad and the church members from Remount prayed and called everyone they knew to pray. I was told Pastor Rob and most of the youth were praying endlessly. Despite all of those intercessions for me, I stayed in a coma for 30 days. I have absolutely no memory of the first 38 days.

As I slowly regained consciousness, I found I was unable to talk or move; but, I could think and hear and see and understand. I was in and out of consciousness for days. I would eavesdrop for about 30 minutes and then drift back into unconsciousness. Imagine being able to know what everyone was saying while you have no way to articulate you could hear them. I could not tell my mom it was going to be okay when she was desperate by my bedside. I could not thank my dad for fighting to keep me alive. I could not tell the specialists that I knew their outlook. My parents were told to begin constructing new plans for my future. I did not even get to plot my own future. I wanted to die. I seriously wanted to die.