The Steps of a Good Man

It has been one week since Joel's accident. And today he WALKED!

With the help of a walker and several caregivers, Joel got out of bed today for the first time since the accident. He walked from his bed to the wall and back- then later, to his room door and back to bed. This was a serious workout for him, but he DID IT! He is showing all the improvement that he should be at this point. He is out of ICU and in a regular room now. He might be transferred soon via ambulance to a rehabilitation center in Abilene, where he will receive 3-4 hours of physical therapy every day, and he'll do more walking. He will be there for approximately 2 weeks and then he may get to go HOME.

When Joel was hit, he was thrust against the hood of the oncoming car--so hard that his helmet seriously dented the hood and ruined the car battery underneath. His face hit the windshield, and the driver saw Joel's face against the glass. Joel was then propelled 81 feet from the point of impact, into a field, where he was safe from the other cars on the road. He was not unconscious, but could not breathe well, and he thought he was going to die there in the field. He prayed there...the kind of prayer that you can imagine a person praying when he thinks he's going to die. He asked God to care for his family. He made some things right before the Lord, and communed with Him there. He did not feel a panic, but instead a huge peace came over him. Even moments later when he was lifted into the ambulance, Joel asked the paramedics if he was going to make it, and they did not know. He had complete peace even then. The LORD MINISTERED TO HIM!!

A week later, Joel still has that peace. I believe this will continue to be true. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Your unfailing comfort!

Joel is able to be himself in the hospital. The nurses all say he is their favorite patient (of course). He is kind, gentle, and of course funny. He keeps apologizing to them. :) Renee gets to be in his room a lot, and aside from being emotional and tired, she's doing well! She can safely lie next to him now and hug him. The kids will be with them tomorrow and will be able to see Joel for the first time since the wreck. Mending has begun!

I don't know much about the financial part of things, but the young man that hit Joel was insured for $25,000 injury for Joel. Joel's auto insurance will also likely cover a portion of his medical bills, and he does have health insurance also. I know that there will be needs, but I don't know the extent of the needs yet. The Holy Spirit knows and will see that Joel and Renee have all they need for the weeks ahead. Brothers and sisters have already responded to the Spirit's promptings and have given to them. Renee's family has really helped her, too, by being there with the children and staying with her there in the hospital. Kendra and Nathan and clan will be there soon to liven things up! It's hard for me to not be there. But I've talked to Joel on the phone and my soul is soaring knowing that he is having a good attitude and embracing the Light and not the darkness. We must continue to intercede on his behalf, for the emotional/mental aspect of all of this! Continuing to pray for his physical body, of course, but praying for the WHOLE JOEL...the tri-part JOEL... spirit, soul, and body.

When imagining Joel walking, I am thinking about those verses in Psalm 37: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down! For the Lord upholdeth him with His hand!"