THE ATTENTIVENESS OF GOD “Keepsakes of God to Treasure”

It’s true……….we never know what a day may bring.  This day began very early in the morning.  My husband had a flight around 8:00 a.m. this particular day, so we were up early and on the road to the airport by 6:00 a.m.   Thirty minutes later my husband exited the car, grabbed his luggage, kissed me goodbye and headed inside the airport.   I got into the car to drive home; but noticed there were a lot of traffic parked not only by the curb, which is where I was parked, but there was a line-up of cars next to me.

After a moment or two the car parallel next to me pulled away.  Yes, I thought, this is now clear for me to pull away from the curb and begin the drive home.  Even though the space was clear, my foot was firmly on the brake, as I wanted to double check that the area where I would be pulling out was clear.   Once that was established, I placed my foot on the accelerator and off I went.

I’m pausing for a moment because I’m finding recapping this event somewhat difficult.

That all changed in a matter of seconds.  The next thing I remember was a huge noise, sudden darkness, a blast of what felt like an object pole-vaulting me forward, and an explosion in front of me.   “Stunned” became reality, followed by shock, blurred vision and nausea.  It took a second to realize that I was in a car accident and I had plowed into something extremely hard.  A CEMENT GUARD WALL is what they call it.

Thinking smoke was filtering in the air, I realized I needed to exit the car.  I later found out it was the particles from the airbag that was filling the car.   I was amazed that the car door was partially opened, due to the impact into the wall.   How thankful I was that it was open enough that I could sort of crawl out the bottom half of the door, as the upper half was consumed with the air bag.

Our little Papillion dog was in the seat next to me, and had been thrown into the glove compartment area and only suffered a slight cut on her head.  I didn’t realize that until later — but she was alive.   I placed the leash around her neck, grabbed my purse and picked up my dog and crawled out of the car.

“I’ll (Jesus) be whatever you need Me to be as you carry out my assignment.”  Experiencing God,” by Henry Blackaby

My first need of reliance was to exit the car!  Gosh those airbags take up a lot of space when they “explode in front of your body!”   The first order of business was to hold onto my little dog and purse and cross three lanes of airport traffic.

I felt very nauseated and my vision was blurred, but I knew I had to get into the airport and tell someone I needed help.  There were three traffic lanes of oncoming traffic approaching next to where the car was demolished.   The urgency for help was increasing, so I raised my arm and began waving at the cars so they would see me and stop to allow me to cross.

As I look back, I wouldn’t have attempted that feat in a thousand years!  But I had to get inside the airport.   I called out to the first man I saw and exclaimed that I had been in an accident, was sick and couldn’t see straight; and that I needed to lie down “right away.”

I could vaguely see seats ahead and I moved in that direction still cradling our little dog.  I needed help and quick.  I phoned my husband, who was well past “security” and in the lounge area to board his upcoming flight.   No answer, of course, as he would have his phoned turned off.  I sent a text and began phoning two other people.  It was only 6:40 a.m. so most people would have had their cell phones turned off.

Just before the pain struck, my cell phone rang and it was my husband asking, “Are you all right and where are you?”   “I’m at the airport – I haven’t gone anywhere.”   Gone anywhere?  Yet I seemed to  have made a terrific impact on a cement guard wall.  It’s a good thing the guard rail was just above the cement wall, otherwise I’d have gone ‘down’ to another level of the airport – and, I would not be writing this story.

At this point, I could not function.  I laid down on the seat with my coat under my head, and our little dog curled up on my tummy.  My blurred vision cleared, but pain was beginning to settle in my back and neck.   At this point all I could do was very quietly say, “Jesus, help me.”   

Within what seemed like just a couple minutes, the area around me was flooded with “visitors.”   Peter was escorted back through Security to come to the area where I was horizontally located.  There were four policemen, six paramedics, a fire truck, emergency squad and a tow truck.  Goodness, a person has to go through quite an ordeal to locate a “personal crowd.”

I say that with humor now, but it wasn’t funny at the time.   The paramedic was telling me that I needed to be taken to the hospital; but I told him that I wasn’t going anywhere until my little pooch (Puppet) was taken care of.   The wonderful paramedic not only read the situation medically, but emotionally.  

He leaned over me and said that, “We’re not taking you anywhere until your little Puppet has been taken care of.”   Aww, how tenderly his words were spoken, and I felt some relief in my heart and mind.

Peter took the dog and gave her to our friend (who had arrived at the airport lounge) along with the keys to the house, and asked that they take her to our home and lock up the house.   

As pain emerged and I was only too relieved to proceed to a hospital.   But first the policeman wanted to do an interview!   He was asking me about the details of what had just happened.   I don’t mind being questioned, but certainly would have preferred a relaxed atmosphere and more convenient timeline. 

There was nothing my husband could do, as he was already checked in and waiting to board an aircraft.  He walked alongside me as they transported me into the ambulance; and I assured him that he could do nothing to help me, but to go ahead on his trip.

That’s all my recollection; and now I’m in a new and scary environment, an “emergency vehicle.”  If you’ve been in one, you probably know how scary and yet safe it can feel; because you know the paramedics know how to care for you.

Well, my “personal paramedic” was sent by the Lord!  He was probing gently all over my body for symptoms of perhaps a broken neck, etc.  After he ascertained that he thought my neck would recover, he leaned over me and asked me this question.   “Dianne, are you a Christian?”  “Yes I am” was my response.  He then said, “I am too, and honey we’re going to take real good care of you!”   I almost cried at his tender and compassionate response.  

I knew then, that God indeed, was present and caring for me in such kind and wonderful ways.

“The Lord will allow you to face situations where you have absolutely no choice but to rely upon Him.”   Wisdom From Above, by Charles Stanley

In my right mind, I’d never would have attempted to cross three lanes of oncoming cars, much less with blurred vision  — but what’s a woman to do to get help.  No one appeared physically at the car to help me.  But there was One who was there all the time and proved Himself “faithful” in incredible ways.

To breathe in some fresh air on this accident, I’d like to leave the “cement situation” behind me, and invite you to the many “attentive ways” my Savior supported me in the trauma of the event.

First of all, in normal settings, my husband would not be allowed out of the waiting lounge to revisit the check-in area of the airport.   He had gone through Security and that pretty well sealed him in position for boarding his flight.  

The airport staff made an “exception” and had him escorted to my “horizontal location.”  It’s at this point that I realized God made sure I could see my husband before heading toward the hospital.  That would have given him a sense of peace as well as myself.

But here’s an incredible thing God did for me:  I wasn’t fearful of being left alone, but encouraged my husband to continue on with his needed travel plans.  Are you kidding?   As I review it again, that wasn’t a “normal response” of a wife who was in my condition at the moment.   It was as if God “took over” my responses and gave me PEACE…..and “INCREDIBLE PEACE.”

A few days before my husband’s trip away and this crash landing at the wall, I kept sharing with the Lord that I had no projects at home to do, the housework was caught up (that seldom happens), no laundry or painting plans.  What was I going to do for seven days?   Just as I was being examined in the emergency squad, a humorous thought came my way.  It was as though the Lord said, “I have an idea what you’ll do … REST.”   I actually smiled on that one.  Laughter wasn’t in the cards at that moment.

Here’s another incredible thing God did for me:   I wasn’t one bit afraid!   I was hurting, to be sure, but I had “no stress.”  I’m amazed I’m even writing this down, but it’s true.   I was now alone, husband returns to the waiting lounge, a friend was escorting my dog home and I was by myself in an emergency squad heading for a destination for which I had no idea of how long I’d be there, or would anyone come to be with me.

Here’s another incredible thing God provided for me:  The emergency room wasn’t busy!  I was taken to an empty area – you know, the ones with the baby blue curtain separating you from your hospital neighbor.   Within minutes I was surrounded by two nurses and a physician and my personal paramedic, Ray.  The nurse was on-the-spot with the needle for one arm in case I required blood.

Here’s another incredible thing God helped me with:  On my right was the paramedic and physician chatting about my “high blood pressure.”  Now here’s where it’s time to defend your medical rights.   I wasn’t comfortable hearing all about their concern about my high blood pressure; so I piped up and said:  “Hey, your blood pressure would be high too if you just slammed into a cement wall like I did.”   I began to laugh, and they did too.   “Just patch me up and get me out of here and my “white coat pressure” (our blood pressure usually rises upon seeing a doctor in a white coat) will reduce to a normal range.

Here’s another incredible way God showed up:  Within half an hour they housed my entire head in a cage.  They told me it would be uncomfortable, and they were right.   As they fitted this gear on me, the Lord seemed to calm my mind and heart to be “still” and you’ll be safe.   I wasn’t allowed to move, but I’d be safe.   Now the ceiling was my new “vista to view.”   However God provided a wonderful presence through the nurse, even though brief, as she needed to attend to a newcomer on the E.R. block.  I was now by myself, yet not alone.  God was with me.   Within just a few minutes, I heard the “familiar voice,” the voice of a friend.

This friend had been informed of where I was and she drove to the hospital to “be with me.”  She announced firmly that she would be there all the time so I wouldn’t be alone.  And, she would be driving me home when all the testing was complete and I could be discharged.  Another provision of the Lord Jesus.  He was there, but He wanted me to sense “Jesus with skin on” (through the presence of a friend) to further comfort me.  I was stunned and wanted to leap for joy when I heard my friend’s voice.   But due to my “caged prison,” there would be no physical leaping.

Here’s another incredible way God showed up:  My personal paramedic appeared at the hospital, no doubt, bringing in another patient.  But as I was now in a laid back position on the bed, I could see people coming and going.  “There’s Ray….my paramedic.”   I called out to him and he instantly came over to my temporary hotel accommodation, ha ha.   I was able to thank him and encourage him because of the way he had attended to me earlier that morning. 

Right then and there I had plans to write him a letter, to not only thank him, but to encourage him in how good he is at his job (actually his ministry to others).   Perhaps this was one of the purposes in all of the events…………..a paramedic needed encouragement.

Within two hours, testing was complete, no broken bones and within the next hour I would be released.

Here’s another incredible way God cared for me:  My friend drove me home and stayed with me the entire day and evening just to make sure I would be all right staying by myself.  The pain medicine would be a regular companion for a few weeks, no doubt; but she wasn’t going to leave me until I felt comfortable being alone. 

The following three evenings she came over to attend to me with hour long massages.  What a “gift she was.”  She even bought and brought home three meals…as I was too weak to prepare anything for myself.

Here’s other way God provided for me:  Two of my neighbors came over with food on various days.   Another neighbor brought flowers. 

Here are some musings God gave me about all that transpired throughout this ordeal.  I’ve journaled them so I can reflect on all that God provided, and how He proved Himself faithful through it all.

Mental gifts from my Lord…..through and because of the accident:

• I can attest that all this has given me a “deeper and more intimate” walk with Jesus
• There are purposes in our trials (and I’ve only seen just a few)
• Adjusting to God’s plan B…..develops my character
• Giving of ourselves in those moments of pain, we’ll have “keepsakes of Him to treasure”

A keepsake is something precious that serves as a reminder, a memorial or symbol of a treasure to our hearts.  I wanted to journal this event and rehearse over and over the “treasured keepsakes of Jesus and His marvelous care in all that transpired.”

Before I close off this personal story, I want to share the Scripture that I was memorizing just weeks before the incident at the airport.

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.”

That verse came to me soon after the accident reminding me of His constant care in and through everything, and I couldn’t be more GRATEFUL!!!!!   Every word of that verse was lived out that morning, and continues to remain as I heal.

 As people asked me about what happened that day, I wanted to be keenly aware that even if I shared the details, the most important details were “about God….and how He came near to attend me in every way.”

We will all have or will experience disappointments, pain, frustration, and various griefs woven throughout our life because we live in a sinful world.   It’s easy to camp on the negative as we tell our stories; but we need to be confident to share what “God does” for His people in the midst of our life experiences.   Why?   So others will want to trust in Him too – for their life journey.

BUT GOD…………..are crucial words in sharing our life’s experiences (good & bad), and what He does to accompany and care for us.

Our comments of testimony about what God does to help us should “highlight our experience.”  When we share how Jesus helps us, it tells others that He is worthy and worth trusting and walking with here on this earth,” and right on into eternity.

It has been three and a half months since this event……and as I continue to completely recover, I recall it all with a “grateful heart.”