My Big Break, Part Four: All It Was Cracked Up To Be–And More!

Read My Big Break – Part One here.

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28 Amp

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Continuing to read from the mythical Book of William, Chapter 1:11:

¹¹And so it was that William was taken from the home of Hermann along the road to city of his home. The Lord continued to be faithful and to travel with him.

¹²Throughout the days that passed, faithful friends called and visited to inquire of his well-being and to bring meals to sustain and enjoy.

¹³There continued to be wailing and gnashing of teeth but, as at the home of Hermann, there were great blessings from God and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴And the Lord continues to work to this day.

My grandkids did not know exactly what to make of this new version of “Papa”, as they call me. He walked around with a strange contraption-made even stranger due to the extension for my broken wrist. He was not like the guy who had chased them around the house during games of “Duck, duck, goose.” When I first began to gingerly test being “walker-less”, my granddaughter exclaimed, “Papa’s back!”

In light of the recovery still ahead of me, Morgan’s observation was a little premature but it was welcomed and a true indication of how she had viewed Papa’s condition. Behind that walker–which I both blessed and cursed–I took several daily turns on “Loop 428″ (as I named the circuit around our house that I exercised (the number of our house is 428).

My continuing experiences included showers which would not have been possible without my loving wife there to wrap my casted broken wrist so it wouldn’t get wet and to stand beside me because I could not clean myself. There were also the hundred-and-one times (at least) when she had to do or get something for me which was practically impossible for me such as helping me dress and to put on (and take off) my boots.

Although she has always done so much for me, she went above and beyond the call of duty–to use the proverbial expression. And not only did she take such excellent care of me personally, she undertook the considerable paperwork, photocopying, and conversations on the phone with both Samaritan Ministries (our “insurer”) and the various healthcare providers. I continue to admit to all who know us: I definitely married UP (as if I had to tell them).

I put the term insurer in quotes above because it’s impossible to find a simple term for the role Samaritan Ministries played.

In 2005, when my employer laid me off, we were without group medical insurance. The cost to convert the group coverage I had to individual was prohibitive and the individual coverage premium was almost as high-and climbing higher each month.

Through one of her cousins, Chris found out about Samaritan. After much prayer and consideration we dropped our traditional coverage for them. The plan consists of a large community of Christians who have come together to share each other’s medical bills. Members are active in church and believe in living biblical lifestyles that include making healthy living a priority. Each pays a monthly “share” that is used to pay fellow members’ medical bills.

The people with whom we dealt at Samaritan could not have been more competent in handling negotiations with providers nor with us.

One of the great blessings I received from the individuals and families who mailed us checks were the notes, cards, and letters that accompanied them. Not only was this correspondence warming, supporting and inspiring but I knew that in addition to the prayers of friends and family around me there was an even larger community of believers lifting up both Chris and me in prayer.

As great as the impact of these experiences was, and with the many times I felt the Lord so close during this time I must confess, however, that my flesh is weak (Surprise, Surprise!)

There were times of despair. Few times in my life have I shed as many tears. There were tears of pain, anger, frustration and, in all-too-many cases, tears of self pity. At times, I would give voice to my complaints along with the tears.

It was in these moments the Lord would gently correct me saying, “Son, it’s all right to cry; that is a release. But do not speak. Do not give the enemy a foothold.”

I know full well that my experience is so minor in light of the pain and tragedy others have faced. I also know that my accident–even from the distance I fell–could have been fatal or permanently debilitating, and it was so much less. Yet the Lord never condemned or criticized for self-pity. He simply reminded me that it was not His best for me.

As He continued to speak to me, it was as if I were His only concern on Earth. (Talk about multi-tasking!)

There were rehab sessions for my hip and later, when the cast was removed, for my wrist. To this day there are times when it seems healing is complete-or at least imminent. Other days, it seems to have gone backwards. My last appointment with my surgeon resulted in a good prognosis for both hip and wrist. I possibly face minor carpal tunnel surgery on my wrist but, then again, it may not.

I thank the Lord for the delicious meals provided by those who signed up and traveled out of their way to deliver. We do not live in the nearby neighborhood of the church we attend. There was a time commitment on the part of brothers and sisters in Christ to both prepare and bring the meals we enjoyed and which helped take some load from Chris.

There were the financial gifts, as well as a blessing of some work to building a website for the husband of one of the therapists who came to our home-someone whom I would not have met and talked with outside of the contact brought about due to my accident.

The blessings I received from the Lord-both directly and through His children-have proven to me over and over the words of Romans 8:28.

My accident was not a “test from God” and certainly not a punishment. I don’t even waste time trying to involve the actions of our enemy, either. It was simply an event–a symptom of our fallen world (pun not intended, but I love puns so I’ll leave it!).

I know that, as soon as believers gathered around my broken body, some were praying even then.

I know that, as soon as the Lord stopped my futile self-pity and self-incrimination and spoke the words of Romans 8:28 to me (using His own authorized translation), I felt the presence of His Holy Spirit, who never left. And I know that our Heavenly Father moved those who continued to pray and to give and to serve.

Above all, He has caused me to grow in my daily walk with Jesus Christ. I can say that without claiming an ounce of self-credit because God has made it clear that the work has been all His.

Praise God. Thanks to all who prayed; thanks to all who served in our behalf.  How beautiful is the body of Christ!

Below is a companion video to the four-part letter about the accident. It may serve as an aid to remembering this vital promise.

Love,
Brother Bill