In
2011, fourteen-year old Taylor Hale suffered a brain hemorrhage due to a severe
head injury. Doctors fought to save Taylor’s life, but her brain sank part
way into her spinal column. Her brain “had turned to mush” and she was
declared brain-dead. Doctors told her parents that no one comes back from
that. Arrangements were made to take her off life support and discuss organ
donation.
That
afternoon, Jeff Stickel, a chiropractor and friend of Taylor’s parents, visited
the hospital and asked if he could pray for her. They agreed. He put his hands
on her neck and prayed for God to heal her, then he left. Later that afternoon,
doctors turned off the life support that had helped her breathe since
the accident.
Then something unexpected happened.
Taylor struggled to take a breath under her own power. The medical staff
reconnected her on life support. As the day went on, Taylor’s brain activity
began to increase. She opened her eyes and moved her fingers and toes. The doctors
told her parents they had no medical explanation for what was happening to her.
Taylor
miraculously recovered, learned to walk again, and graduated from high school (see the before and
after picture). But she did lose memory of her childhood and doesn’t remember
the accident. Nevertheless, her recovery is nothing short of a modern-day
miracle.
Doctors
can’t explain what happened, but what about that prayer by Jeff Stickel
right before they turned off the life support? Could that have something to do with
it? No doubt about it. Jesus said, “The things that are impossible with people
are possible with God” (Luke 18:27)
A man watched a boy skating down the sidewalk on one skate. He
said, “Don’t you know that you’re supposed to skate on two skates?” The boy
told him, “Someone stole my other skate and that’s why I’m skating on just one
skate.”
As the man walked away, the boy yelled, “Hey Mister, did you know
that you can still have a lot of fun on just one skate?”
When someone wrongs you, it’s natural to get upset at that person.
But you can’t be angry and enjoy life at the same time. That’s one reason why
Jesus said, “Whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either” (Luke 6:29). Your
happiness is more valuable than a coat, or a shirt, or a skate. God doesn’t want you to lose your joy just because
someone took something away from you.
The early Christians kept their joy when their property was seized
because they believed God would make it up to them. “You … accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession
(Heb. 10:34).
Jesus doesn’t want us so attached to “stuff” that it affects our
attitude. He said to “lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward
will be great” (Luke 6:35). If your neighbor borrowed your shovel but moved
away and never returned it, don’t lose your joy over a shovel. Trust what Jesus
said and consider it as an investment in your heavenly reward.
Remember this the next time someone mistreats you. If you’ll keep
a joyful attitude, God will more than make up whatever you lost. And don’t
forget to keep having fun on that one skate.
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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net Twitter: @KentCrockett
www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com
