A Bend in the Road — or the River
Have I ever told you about our “bend in the road” in 2002? I backed into Ray and broke both his wrists. It’s a long story, but trust me I totally get the meaning of the word accident.
Ray and I were working together to hook up a trailer to our Suburban. As I was slowly backing up toward the trailer for Ray to hook it up, I heard something fall behind the driver’s seat. Fearing that it was the ice chest and that water was now falling onto many dollars worth of homeschool curriculum, I stopped the car and hopped out to check on it.
Trouble is that I didn’t put the car in park and Ray was standing between the car and the trailer. His knee-jerk reaction was exactly what many people’s would have been. In that split second, he threw up his hands to stop the Suburban — or protect himself — while yelling, “Put it in park!” His wrists were two S’s when he walked (praise God!) around the car after I pulled it forward and put it in park. The Suburban was dented where his hands had been!
Needless to say, neither he nor I made it to the homeschool convention where we were supposed to unveil Exploring America, Ray’s first high school curriculum, that day (two of our children drove from home four hours away to do that). Surgery, six months of painful therapy, and many apologies and words of forgiveness followed.
That incident — and many others since then — have taught us a powerful truth about God. He really meant it when He said He would take care of us — through anything!
. . . for He Himself has said,
“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper,
I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5-6
One of my thoughts in those first moments after I realized what had happened was extreme gratitude that I had not killed my husband. Excruciating and inconceivable as that would have been, God’s care would not have stopped. I would see Ray again in heaven. God promised. I know it is true.
On our trip to Indiana last week, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant overlooking a bend in the Ohio River. I’ve crossed the Ohio many times, but the view on a hillside overlooking the river, far from a heavily traveled bridge was different.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it. I stood on the high hill above the river, relishing the scene, in spite of the blustery day.
I don’t know if you are in the middle of a bend in the road — or river — right now or if one is up ahead for you or in your rearview mirror. I do know that God does know that. I also know that He has answers for every bend and is mighty to help.
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:3-4