About two weeks ago, my great aunt and uncle were in a terrible accident.

They were big RV “adventurers”…they have been all over the United States…this time, a routine RV trip in their state turned into a nightmare!

Here is a portion of the email they sent to us:

“We were over the top and coming down the western side and approaching a curve, [Uncle] Bob wasn’t getting any brakes on the trailer. He hit the emergency – nothing. Then nothing from the truck. We were leaving the highway headed for the edge of the forest and drop off at about 40 mph. I knew we were going to die, but I prayed out loud, Oh, God, please help us. And mercifully He did!!! The crash was awful. We took out trees, scraped against a large rock and finally another tree stopped everything. We were upside down and the trailer was on top of the truck. My chest hurt (fractured sternum) and Bob’s head was bleeding. No one who came to rescue us could believe that anyone could be alive. A man (angel?) hollered in to us and said I won’t leave you and will get help soon, (it seemed awhile). We are many miles from anything – above Diablo. A Fire Dept. came, then medics, ambulance, state patrol. The whole bit. They had to cut us out thru the windshield. They got us up the hillside and into an ambulance and then transported to Mt. Vernon hospital. We were in Emergency from 4 in the afternoon until about 11 when we were taken to separate rooms. We were released on Tuesday. Bob has scrapes and bruises and I really got bruised from the seat belt. We are so thankful to God and blessed to be alive. Kids are taking care of us and church and quilting friends are bringing us meals. Truck and 5th wheel are completely destroyed. But they are just ‘stuff’.”

What a miraculous story! God certainly had His protecting hands around them…the good news is they are believers! Even if the accident had resulted in their deaths, I know they would’ve been in a much better place! But what a testimony…to come out of such a tragic accident giving God the glory!! Also, they viewed the loss of some expensive possessions as meaningless – “just ‘stuff’.” What a great attitude and perspective!

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith….”

Philippians 3:8-9

Continue to pray for their recovery from their injuries. Also, please pray that they would use this as an opportunity to witness to lost family members and friends.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust….”

“You have multiplied, O LORD my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told….”

“I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.”

“As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!”

“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the LORD!’ As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!”

Psalm 40