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On Sat 4th September a few of us from the
Healing Ministry went out to Wilberforce to attend a wedding. It was no
ordinary wedding! Do you remember Rev. David Luke? For those who do not
know him – he is a long time friend of the Healing Ministry.
He preached a sermon in Jan 2001 entitled
”Praise God Along the Journey’ in which he told us about his and Toni’s
son Dave. Here is an excerpt from that sermon.
“Back in 1997 my elder son was hit by a car,
and sustained very severe brain damage, he is in the worst ten percent
that actually lived. We were told soon after that accident that in fact
he would not live and we would have to consider donating his organs.
He was in a coma for 3 months. He didn’t die
in that first 24 hrs but 3months is a long time to be in a coma and to
see a body wasting away and you wonder if anything is ever going to
change. After 3months he began to wake up – he began to move his left
arm.
After that he was in the brain injury unit
at Westmead Hospital for 15 months. They didn’t really want to take him
because they felt his injury was so bad … But we insisted that we do the
best for him.
As we went along we were drawing on the very
best medical intervention that was available as well as drawing on God’s
power as well as continuing to persist .After being in a nursing home
for some months there was still no communication – we were thrilled if
his eyes would follow us – then a wonderful thing happened – he began to
acknowledge by nodding his head.
In October – 3years and one month after the
accident he said “Hello Mum. How are you?” We were so excited. Over the
last year our son is really communicating – he gives us hugs. Just
recently I was reading the Bible. It was Psalm23. I wondered “Now that
he is saying some more words, if I pointed to a word would he say it
after me? And he did so we knew his eyesight is useful so we are able
now to have a real relationship with our son. One thing he has started
to do recently is to laugh at humorous things.”
We in the Healing Service have been praying
for Dave in a continuing way. You may have heard his name mentioned in
our time of corporate prayer following the Laying on of hands.
On Saturday 4th September Dave married Jenny
– they met at the nursing home where she worked. The opening hymn was
“How Great Thou Art” and Dave mouthed every word. He is wheel – chair
mobile and has specific needs. Jenny’s love for him and his for her
shone from them. It was a privilege to share in this young couple’s and
their family’s special day.
After the service we were asked to make a
guard of honour along the pathway from the old church to the new. As we
stood there we said “Who would have believed 5 years ago that we would
be here today witnessing this
marriage?”
Let us give thanks to God for His amazing grace and continue to pray for
God’s restoration of Dave and for His blessing on their life together. |
