"Grandma," Isaac looked worriedly at his grandma, "What if we have another wreck?"
Vern's folks, Ralph and Carol, had been the first to arrive in Guthrie. They had left their house in Irving around 5 and forced their way through the agonizing rush hour traffic in Dallas, arriving in Guthrie around 9PM. After picking up the kids, they were about to take the trip home in the dark.
"Baby, God is going to take care of us on the ride home. Just like He did when that semi truck hit you earlier today." Isaac seemed satisfied with that answer, and after having a time of prayer with his grandparents, Matt and Grace, he settled down for the 4 hour drive to Ovilla.
I hadn't gotten to say "goodbye" to the kids before they left Guthrie and headed home. My new friend Stephanie, who had seen the entire wreck take place as she was heading home from work, had come to the hospital with her husband and took us to their home to have supper and wait while Vern's folks and a few close church friends made their way to Guthrie to pick us up. Stephanie and I were at the local drug store getting Vern's medications when Ralph and Carol arrived at her house in Guthrie. Everyone felt it was best to not wait for us to return and instead get the kiddos home as quickly as possible. But I called Carol and had her give the phone to each of the kids so that I could talk to them as they were headed home, just to reassure them (and me) that we were all still okay.
With the kids safely on their way back home with Vern's folks, the rest of us headed over to the wrecking yard in the dark to pull everything out that was salvageable--because most everything we needed on a day to day basis was in that camper. But the emotional relief of gathering our things and taking them home was also just as necessary.
As
we walked into the gate where the truck was we all stopped in our
tracks, jaws dropping to the ground. It was the first time our friends had seen it, and there was something about seeing what a beating it had taken that spoke volumes about God's
awesomeness, faithfulness and protection. As Monja cried softly, she turned to Vern and Kai and said, "Who wouldn't believe in God after seeing this--knowing you had all walked away with your lives?"
So three trucks (The McKnight's, The Farda's and our suburban--Monja and her son Kai had driven that up) loaded up what had once fit into our camper and headed back home in the dark. Vern and Denny rode with The McKnight's, Michael's truck was too stuffed to hold anyone but himself, and I rode in our suburban with Monja driving and Kai in the back.
It had been less than 10 hours since the wreck had occurred and Vern was already in his element, even urging the clerk at the gas station to get right with Jesus because you never know when it's your last day. Even a fresh witness can occur in the dark.
What else do Texans do in the dark? I'll tell you.
1. They put all of their Friday night plans aside and drive through rush hour Dallas traffic to get to their friends and family in need.
2. They coordinate a plan because the family they are helping is in no shape to make decisions.
3. They cry and laugh with you over the tragedy and miracle of the situation.
4. They spend two hours pulling your stuff out of the wreckage with you, with only a few teases about some personal items.
5. They find your scripture ring in the wreckage that has countless index cards on it with verses that are precious to you that you carry with you everywhere, and hand it to you because they know it will bring you comfort.
6. They get back on the road, bone tired and emotionally drained (and loaded up on Sunkist) to get you home as quickly as possible because that's what you need them to do for you.
7. And they don't try to persuade you to go with another plan.
8. They giggle with you because you swear you saw a 4 foot beaver in the road. (Hint: only the Texan on massive pain medication saw THAT.)
9. They let you run through the events of the wreck over and over and urge you to rest while they drive you back home.
10. They unload one truck before heading to their homes. Or just take your packed suburban home with them to keep you from being tempted to start unloading that without their help.
Everyone was gone as the sun started peaking its head over the horizon. We checked on the kids to be sure they were sleeping OK, then headed for the showers. Rivers of red Oklahoma dirt drifted to the drain, and I was so glad to see it go.
But we saw a lot more Oklahoma red dirt that day.
About 5 hours after arriving at home, the doorbell rang. JD and Lauren Shields set up wash stations on the front and back porches to wash the red dirt off of all our camper inventory. Stephanie and Tommy McKnight had caught some quick winks after their long drive to Guthrie and back again to Ovilla in the dark and came to the house to help unload the last truck and coordinate the day for us as we were in no shape to do it ourselves. I remember Vern was on the couch dozing off and on as the pain from his head wound and his cut up hands started to really hit him. I was stiffening up pretty good by then too and the bruise on my shoulder/chest had deepened to a dark purple. I was so thankful that we were not driving anymore that day. I was trying to help get things put away after the red dirt had been washed off, and Tommy would get frustrated with me because I wouldn't sit down. Rhett Shields took a bath in the front porch tub--hard for a little guy to resist all that water and he made us all laugh! Monja Kiefer had taken our suburban home with her loaded down with most of the clothes, and spent the weekend washing and drying those. Kai Kiefer cleaned my truck inside and out--best detail job I've ever had. Renee Cole had the forethought to realize all of our food was lost in the wreck, and in the dark hours of the night, had restocked our kitchen with all the perfect things she knows our kiddos love to eat. Leah Farda came later that afternoon to help finish up and also ran some errands for me as we were in no shape to drive. She was there to comfort me when I had my first nightmare. Brandy Conklin had already started a Meal Calendar and brought us supper that night.
Tommy McKnight came and picked us up for church the next morning. By then, our church family knew what had happened, and I'm not sure who was more shocked--them because we were at church already less than 2 days after the wreck, or us because our church family was shocked we were at church.
Vern kept saying that there was nowhere else he would rather be after experiencing such a miracle than there in church to worship God.
Because whether it's in the dark or in the light, we choose to worship God.
I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 59:16
