He Holds My Hand

In Matthew 19:14-15 “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and don’t prevent them. For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them.”

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus was on earth teaching, touching, healing and blessing many people. He also touched children as stated in this verse. It touches me deeply as I think about my past year after a terrible accident which changed me, now feeling and thinking as a child.

February 20, 2024

One year ago Gary and I went to Panama City Beach, FL to enjoy a lovely vacation on the coast. We loved to walk along the beach and the area around our condo. Toward the end of our warm days, our lives changed dramatically. As we walked across a street following the lights, we were both hit by a truck on February 27, 2024. Our lives changed forever.

For 5 weeks I was in the hospital there. First, the medical staff didn’t know if I would live because of the serious damage to my brain and body. As time passed, they thought I would live but they questioned my brain, eyes, ears, and muscles. They questioned whether I would ever live as an independent adult again. During these 5 weeks, many people prayed for me, asking God to touch me and bring help to me. God’s help touched me day by day and allowed me to be brought back to Minneapolis, MN for another 3 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation at Allina Courage Kenny Abbott Hospital.

Once again, God answered many prayers for me. God worked for me through the medical staff. I began to understand some words, my eyes could see more, my ears were cleaned and able to hear more, my muscles began to work better. Through these positive changes, God gave me his gifts which allowed me to go home.

The next steps began when wonderful staff at Courage Kenny Golden Valley helped me through many ongoing damage issues in my brain and body. My therapists continued working with me from May into December. Many people continued to pray for me during these 8 months. God’s help continued to work in me. Through God’s care for me, I was also able to pray to God for many people who also needed God’s help.

As an adult who feels like a child in my brain, I am thankful that Jesus said, “let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as them.” Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and he blessed them. I truly feel that God placed his hands on my head and he blessed me. My head (brain) has been touched for months. God continues to touch my head every day and slowly I continue to learn more each day.

One of the gifts from God I enjoy every day is reading. It is now a year since the injury happened. Every day, I very slowly read each word and understand what they mean. It touches my heart as I read God’s word in the Bible. My goal (with Gary’s help) is to read the entire Bible through this year.

As I read like a “young child,” I have enjoyed reading the 9 "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote about her childhood in American farm country areas. I enjoyed reading about a country daughter as I think about my own childhood as a daughter on a farm in mid-America. As I read, I could stretch my brain to think more about what happened in Laura’s childhood as well as my own childhood.

The next books I am enjoying are written by C.S. Lewis. The set is 7 books about the lion, Aslan, and children from our world and characters from Narnia. I just finished the 4th book, Prince Caspian. My heart was touched when Lucy was spoken to by Aslan. "'It is hard for you, little one,' said Aslan. 'But things never happen the same way twice. It has been hard for us all in Narnia before now.' Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her. Quite suddenly she sat up. 'I’m sorry, Aslan,' she said. 'I’m ready now.'" This part of the story brought tears to my face as I realized this is how I feel many days. My life has changed and will never be as it was before the accident. Yet, God speaks to me (with magic) every day, and strengthens me about each day he brings into my life. It brings strength, excitement, and hope for each day ahead.

So, this has been a year I never dreamed of before it began. God has touched me every moment as the time moved along. I am thankful every day in my heart as I think about each of your prayers to God each day. Know that I also pray for you each day as well. Life introduces new stories every day about things that happen in many people and families. Each person has plans and dreams, yet surprise happens. It is wonderful knowing that the Lord and his angels bring glory and grace to everyone. May the year ahead bring peace to each of us.

Psalm 34:1-7 says, “I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name. For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! This poor man cried to the Lord - and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him.”

February 25, 2025