I Won't Lose A Kid!

Years ago, when I was in my late 20’s;  I was teaching third grade at a school near my home in Stigler, Oklahoma. I had a young man who was nine, in my class. He was what someone might call “all boy”. And being all boy, he was rough and tough, a talker; and when he wanted to give his love, it was something that was always welcomed.

One of the best memories I have was picture day. He had asked if I would take a school picture with him along with a friend of his, and to be honest, I was “touched” that he would ask me, his teacher, to join him for his school picture.

I thank God for all the media devices we have today. I was someone who was always involved in my kids’ ( student’s ) lives, and I still am today. I am not sure if they’ll ever know how much I appreciate them emailing me, mailing me, visiting me, etc to still be involved in their lives.

Last fall however, at the age of sixteen, this same young man had an accident. I was preparing in my office to go out for the Sunday morning church service when I received some news that greatly troubled me. This kid, my kid, had been involved in a gun accident that left his life in question. It took my breath away when I received the news.  

Immediately upon hearing, with boldness, and in all humility, I said  to the Lord, “I WON'T LOSE A KID!!” I just kept telling him again and again,  and headed out to the church service.

I continued to check in daily with anyone I could reach at the moment. Here he was in a life threatening injury that had a bullet entering in through his chin and throughout facial areas, lodged close to the brain in the temple, along with a shattered voice box. I did not want to see him paralyzed, mentally challenged, or unable to speak! We kept praying and I kept reminding the Lord, “ I will not lose a kid.”

After a 5 hour or so trip in an ambulance crossing state lines, much of the swelling had gone down. He began shortly upon arrival being able to write on paper, which encouraged me that  his mind was fully operating. A person close to the family spent their time reading the scriptures to him as his small rural hometown continued praying, along with this former third grade teacher.

After surgery, and within two weeks he was up moving, eating, and breathing on his own, but there was still a concern with no speech. But then one Saturday morning rolled around. While still in the hospital lying in his bed, a friend continued to read scriptures out of Jeremiah and Isaiah to him. He would write down the prayers as he listened. After some time of this routine, he was asked a question; and expecting to respond on his notepaper with the answer, he instead responded with a voice! He has not stopped talking since!

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He went on to stand on the side lines of his football team as they entered the end of their season that fall, but was fully suited up and ready to play for basketball season by that December; and has done some occasional bull riding this spring in the local rodeo.

I watched the Power of God be demonstrated in his life, and the goodness of the Lord towards him, as well as a whole town. I thank God for my friend, and all those who were praying, believing, and saw the power of God operate in his life; and I thank him for letting me share his testimony.