Shatterred Dreams

Last week, My good and dear friend, Amy, texted me.

"Please pray for Rob! We're on our way to the hospital in an ambulance. He dove into the pool down the street and didn't come up. He's not real alert, not breathing well, and seems to have some spinal and neck issues!!!"

All day waiting, 5 hours of surgery, my dear friend learned her husband was paralyzed, chest down with no use of arms and legs.

"Complete paralysis" the dr. said, "which has less chance of recovery."

These words have rung in my head over and over for the last 8 days.

I began thinking of how this would affect the family dynamics. Ramps will need to be placed into the house, new van accessible for wheelchairs, a new table for them to sit at low enough for his chair to slide under, etc...

Through the initial shock and tears my husband and I shed while driving to Louisiana to be there to support our dear friends, one thing kept ringing in my ears louder than anything...

"God is in control. Before the foundations of this earth was formed, God ordained for Pastor Rob, on July 3, 2012, to dive into the pool and break his neck. All things happen for the good of God's children whom He loves.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

 God knew  Amy would be at Walmart, the kids would  witness their daddy not coming up for air. Their oldest few would pull him up, Cade, the oldest at age 12, would blow breaths of life into his blue daddy saving Rob with the help of God our Father in heaven.

It has been a long week  for my friends.  Sleepless nights, sinus issues, hard decisions to be made, not so nice nurses, broken dishwasher, need for constant oxygen, a/c stopped working, did I mention sleepless nights?

Many would look at this family and think of the shattered dreams.

Bike rides would end, camping would be harder, water parks would be no longer be a time of daddy walking up the steps to enjoy the excitement as they raced down water slides, adventuring through the woods behind their house...no more. Running through the water at the beach...no more. Hiking through the mountains...no more...

But I would say to those who consider their life full of shattered dreams...consider this...

Their life as it is now, has just begun.

Some physical dreams may be shattered but this is the beginning of Spiritual dreams they would never have imagined.

To grow in the Lord, spiritually, in news ways.

Learning to lean and depend on Christ deeper than they have ever had to.

 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Growing their faith, trusting in their great God and believing His Word.

Being humbled by the love and support of people from all over praying for them.

The strength our great God has given them in this time of weakness. Physically and spiritually.

^" Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." ~Isaiah 41:10

The opportunities that  continue to arise for them to share of God's goodness. People they would have never met...nurses, drs, therapists...

New ways each day to seek our Lord for their needs.

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."~1 Chronicles 16:11

Grow in patience. 

 ^" My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." ~James 1:2-3
 

Friends, it is ok to be sad, it is ok to hurt knowing the difficulty this trial has brought... this was a horrible accident, that will be filled with many trials, tears, hard times, disappointments and they will need our constant prayers,encouragement and help, but in the end, we are to  have faith in God's Word that He will be glorified in Rob's accident.We are to be encouraged to look and  see how the Lord will use this trial in the lives of this family (and ours) to draw them and others closer to Christ.

Yes, again, they will have some shattered dreams physically, but I know this family...growing spiritually is the most important thing  to them. And as hard as it may be for them, I know, without a doubt, they will suffer through this time trusting in God's Word that this is for their best.

If you would like to keep up with the progress of Pastor Rob and "meet" his family, check out their blog.

If the Lord places it on your heart to help them financially, go here.

Update on  Pastor Rob...He felt a tiny sensation in his foot the other day. We rejoice!!! The doctor has said he is now considered "incomplete paralysis". The story is not over... God may desire to show His great power and restoration. It will be a  hard time of therapy, but we are praying for Rob to be able to use his hands again, to stroke the tender heads of his children, hold his wife in his arms, and walk....if it be the Lord's will.

 

Brother Rob and Amy..."  we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light" (Col.1:10-12). We LOVE you, our brother and sister in Christ!!! Know that even though we are not close, you are near to our heart.

To God be the Glory...to God be the Glory....