It’s Thanksgiving for all my American readers! We had our Thanksgiving here in the Great White North in early October, and it was a great family time with board games and turkey and fun.
But even though it’s not Thanksgiving for me, I do have something very big to be thankful for this week.
On Monday night at 9:40 we got a phone call from Katie, my youngest daughter. She was crying uncontrollably. She had been in a bus accident. The public transit bus had been going over a bridge when it careened into the barrier, took out said barrier, and traveled for several seconds on just its left tires. The worst part is that it was leaning–and everyone thought they were going to flip into the river.
They didn’t; when the bus came to a stop Katie went into lifeguard mode (she worked as a lifeguard for two years before heading off to university) and made sure everyone was okay and held hands and waited until the police got there. She has a banged up knee and some sore muscles but otherwise she’s no worse for wear.
But she was certainly shaken.
So I’m so thankful that she was saved from the river.
But I’m thankful that she was saved in other ways, too.
The next morning this is what she posted to Facebook:
First off, I’M OKAY. That being said, last night I was in an extremely terrifying bus accident. We hit the barrier going up a bridge and we were jolted sideways so the right side of the bus (where I was) was raised and we were only driving on the left tires, and for about 15 awful seconds I thought we were going to flip off the bridge and into the water. We kept impacting the metal rods on top of the barrier, so we were all thrown around in the bus. Needless to say, extremely terrifying and traumatizing and I honestly thought that this was it for me.
However, as it was happening, all I could do was look out the front window and watch it all happen, and in that moment the only thoughts I really remember coming to my head were a multitude of verses, talking with Jesus, and praying for my friends and family.
While I’m definitely not happy this happened to me, the fact that I know my last moments would’ve been talking to Jesus, and trusting Him, is extremely comforting to me.
Sometimes we’re scared if our faith is truly genuine or not, and we’re scared of what we would do in a situation where you’re looking death in the face. So I’m choosing to look at last night as a confirmation of my faith and how incredible our God is for protecting all of us on that bus! PRAISE GOD everything was fine and all I have to show from the accident are banged up knees, a headache and a bit of shock still needing to wear off.
You truly never know when it’s going to be your last day on this earth, and I’m so grateful that yesterday wasn’t that day for me. Thank you so much to my amazing family and friends for being so wonderful and comforting to me last night and this morning. In case I don’t tell you guys enough, I love you all so much.
And here’s a video she’s just posted about it:
I’m glad she’s not dead, too! But mostly what I’ve been thinking about is how grateful I am that God has a hold not only of my children’s safety, but also of their hearts, which ultimately is more important.
When I speak at women’s retreats, one of my big messages is to hold everything that God has given us very lightly, with our hands open. When we try to grasp those things, and hold them in a tightly clenched fist, we’re not actually able to enjoy them. But when we know that our life is based on Christ, and not on our blessings, then it’s so much easier to enjoy our blessings because the fear is gone.
Katie learned that this week; it’s a lesson God’s been teaching me for a while now. But it reminds me again, and I’ll say it here again, that our prayers for our kids must be about far more than just safety. I love Paul’s prayers for his spiritual children–here’s Ephesians 3:14-19:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Do you notice how Paul doesn’t pray for safety? I think it’s because he knows that if people truly grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, then they’ll be okay–no matter what.
I will keep praying for safety, and I’m so grateful for my daughter’s safety (you have no idea!). But I am also reminded that safety is not the biggest thing: “For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
And so I am thankful today for my daughters’ hearts, too. They are in the right place, and that, as a mom, must always be the most important thing.
Do you have trouble letting go of worry for your kids? Why not start praying the prayers of Paul for his spiritual children? I’ve got some free prayer printables! And here’s the mobile version.
And now, everyone, have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and may your families be blessed in every way!
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Beautifully said, Katie. Thankful for you, your life and what God has in store. It is more than you eyes can see, ears hear and mind can perceive. It’s really really good. Love to you and your family
Love to you and yours, too, Holly!
Whew! So glad she’s okay!
But a huge AMEN to the bigger point – she belongs to Jesus. Reminds me of the first question of the catechism (Heidelberg)
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own,
but belong—body and soul,
in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.
What a comfort and a blessing to be able to say that of ourselves AND of our children!
Happy American Thanksgiving 😀
Julie
That’s beautiful, Julie! And Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Wow…I’m so thankful she and everyone is ok. How scary! Thank God for his protection. Tuesday night we hit a deer. I’m thankful we didn’t get hurt, but our van on the other hand…Not so much…We’re going to have to junk it.
Oh, what a PAIN, Keelie! Even if no one was hurt, that’s just such an expensive hassle to go through (even if insurance pays up). So sorry!
Wow Sheila! I praise the Lord with you for Katie’s safety.It is God who watches over us and ours.
As Psalm 91 says, He who hides under the shadow of the Almighty can say of Him, you are my God in you I trust.
God is truly our faithful shield.
PS-Becca & Katie look adobs in that photo 🙂
God continue to bless you and your family.
Oh man. That was a tearjerker! So grateful Katie and the other passengers are okay. <3
I was in a car accident over the summer. I took my eyes off the road and rear-ended a much larger vehicle. I had a friend's child with me in the backseat. If there is anything worse than having your own children with you during an accident, it's having someone else's child with you. Someone else trusted me with their child and I blew it. His mom is one of my best friends and she forgave me before I could even apologize, and still trusts me with her son. That is a friendship I will for sure never take for granted! The car was totaled and I was decently banged up (I'm still dealing with neck and back issues months later) but the kiddo only had a seatbelt bruise. God was surely watching over us.
I did deal with having flashbacks, and anxiety in the car, so I would encourage Katie to seek some counseling to help her process the experience. It can be very helpful. (((HUGS))) to Katie, you're an extraordinary young woman and all of us are grateful you are okay!
Oh, that’s one of my biggest fears–to hurt someone else while I’m driving. That must have been awful! Sounds like you have a great friend. But I know, it’s always easier to forgive someone else than to forgive yourself!
Wow!! Powerful video, Katie!
I just want to give her a hug!! Poor little love <3
Although, when she said "I wasn't even supposed to be on that bus" I did wonder: "… maybe you were? you were able to help everybody, and you don't know how God is using even this story for His Kingdom"
which probably sounds a bit insensitive to Katie personally, and I didn't mean that. I really really hope she's ok, and I just want to give her a big hug! Do that from me, Sheila? <3
That’s okay! She’s been thinking that this week, too–maybe she was supposed to be there. And God has certainly brought good out of it in her life, even if it was scary! I love how God can do that.
Oh my goodness! So glad she’s okay.