Covered With His Feathers

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.” Lamentations 3:22

These words from Lamentations have never rung more true for me than this week. I almost wasn’t here to tell the story, but God’s faithful love and mercy were evident. This past Wednesday, after a lovely lunch with my son and his wife, I was driving home “the back way” when a pickup truck blew through a stop sign at a pretty impressive rate of speed. I couldn’t avoid the collision, and the result was not pretty. I was driving my husband’s vehicle, formerly known as a Ford Expedition–it was demolished. I walked (limped) away from the accident with an injured knee and some bruises and abrasions from the airbags and my seatbelt. And a broken fingernail. At the hospital I had x-rays and CT scans and I was allowed to go home for some extended bed rest, ice packs, pain relievers, and an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. The other driver was not as fortunate. The top of his truck had to be cut off so that he and one of his passengers could be extricated from the vehicle. One of them was life-flighted out and the other left the scene in an ambulance. I don’t know how either of them fared. The other passengers in his vehicle (including three dogs and a toddler) were not badly injured, as far as I know.

I was in shock–I’ve never been in an accident before, much less such a devastating one. In the split second before the impact, my life didn’t flash before my eyes–all I remember thinking is, “No way.” After that, the airbags took over as I spun through the intersection. A local resident didn’t see the accident, but the crash was so loud that he heard it and came running.

In the past few days, as I’ve been “relaxing” in bed, the entire scenario has played out in my mind ad infinitum. When “they” say that your life can change in a split second, they’re not kidding. The day after the accident, the following quote by Lisa Heckman popped up on Facebook:

“In a society that has you counting money, pounds, calories, and steps, be a rebel and count your blessings instead.”

Wow, did that hit home with me. Here’s my very short list of blessings, just from that single day, in the form of a prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that I am alive. I realize that your mercy and grace saved my life.

Thank you that I will have more time to witness the love between  my son and his beautiful bride.

Thank you for the woman who saw me stumble out of my vehicle. She took control, asked all of the right questions, and made me sit down before I fell down.

Thank you for the guy who ran toward the scene of the accident rather than just calling 911. He sat with me, brought me a bottle of water, and kept me calm.

Thank you for the volunteer fireman who retrieved my purse and glasses from the wreckage.

Thank you for the woman who found my phone and helped me call my husband when I was too shaky to do it.

Thank you for my husband who made it to the scene of the accident in under half an hour, and thank you for helping him arrive safely–I’m sure that he was speeding. And thank you, honey, for taking over and dealing with the officers and the remains of your truck.

Thank you that I don’t feel any real animosity toward the driver who was paying no attention to the road signs. He didn’t deliberately cause the accident, and if he’s still alive, there’s sure to be some remorse on his part.

Thank you for John W. Hetrick, the U.S. Navy industrial engineer who designed the air bag, taking his design inspiration from compressed air torpedos. He saved my life.

Thank you for the Ford Motor Corporation and the airbags that they installed in the Ford Expedition.

Thank you to the folks in the Boiling Springs community in Ohatchee, Alabama, who know how to respond to accidents at that particular intersection because, sadly, it happens pretty often.

Thank you to all of the first responders–volunteer firemen, EMT’s, deputies, highway patrolmen, ambulance drivers, helicopter pilots–who knew exactly what to say and do.

Thank you to the staff of the ER at St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in Pell City, Alabama. You took care of me quickly and got me back home as soon as possible.

Thank you for the calls from friends to check on us and to see if we need anything, and to the hundreds–yes, hundreds–of friends who have sent messages and prayers my way.

Thank you, Lord, for being close to me in the cab of the truck. I know You’re always there, but I felt Your presence strongly as I was spinning through the intersection.

I am blessed.

Amen, and amen.

Psalm 91:4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Follow AFNN: