Life is hard enough. Imagine you could not walk? Imagine you could not move? Better yet, don’t imagine. It’s one of the worst things that could happen to you. Don’t imagine. It happened to me. I was hit by a car while crossing the street on my way to school, at only sixteen.
Paralysis is eye opening. Paralysis is real. Paralysis is undesirable, a nightmare to say in the least. I’ve woken up before and thought this was all a dream, more than once. Then I see my crutches on the wall, my wheelchair in the corner–tucked in my closet, as far away as possible. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well, not really.
There is loss in life. Loss of friendships, relationships, divorce, accidents! Accidents, a Spinal Cord Injury— it can take everything but your life.
I was pretty. I was popular. I returned to school in a wheelchair my senior year. When everyone was excited for prom and spring break, I was learning to be disabled. There are things we live through only by God’s grace. And only God has kept me.
At sixteen I was healing, but how would life be in a wheelchair? Our home was not handicapped accessible. I knew when the dust settled the visits would lesson. The calls would start to fade. During my stay in the hospital, I would pick up my pencil with a flashlight in the dark at night and write letters addressed to God. I know he heard me.
I finished high school on time, even though I missed most of my junior year. I still made it to prom. My real friends stayed and I made new ones. I learned to drive, went to college, worked, and even walked! I’m walking everywhere with two forearm crutches, and learning how to walk with one cane. I’m still not walking as good as I’d like, but it’s better than using a wheelchair. I still have faith.
Thank God he replaces suffering with joy!
“Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” John 16:20
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
notwithoutgod.net 
Thank you Sharon, you are so wise and such a gift to all of us! Despite my accident, God has given me so much.. I am thankful.
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This is so touching Zina. I hope by your sharing, it will help others to become more sensitive to those who suffer like you have. I would say, you lost some things definitely but you are still pretty and gained a greater inner beauty and a depth of relationship with God that not all have. I’ve found that God always compensates us for our losses in some way if in our bitterness and grief we seek God for comfort.
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