Stay With Mark
“For all of his life, Lord, please stay with Mark. Be his sustaining breath and guard his heart. Amen.”
The phone rang at 9 pm. To my relief, it was my son Mark calling to tell me he would be home soon and not to worry.
Several hours later I awoke suddenly. It was 1:15 am. I checked his Mark’s room and stared at his empty bed. For the next two hours, I walked the floors and prayed. Eventually, I returned to bed. As I pulled the covers over me, I prayed again, “Lord, I’m going to try to get some rest now. Please stay with Mark.”
Abandoned, but not alone
Meanwhile, on a lonely road some 50 miles away, my precious son lay bleeding and dying…trapped in the twisted wreckage of his car. He had suffered a massive head trauma. The “friend” who had begged to drive my son’s new car had left him, believing that Mark was dead and hoping to avoid charges
, walked home and went to bed. My son was abandoned, but he was not alone. Faithful to hear and answer prayer, God was there!
Around 5:20 am Thursday morning, a woman on her way to work spotted Mark’s car wrapped around a tree and called for help from her cell phone.When our alarm clock sounded at 6 am, the Wellsville Search and Rescue squad was still working to extract him from the passenger side of his vehicle. By the time he arrived at the hospital his brain was swelling to dangerous levels and he had slipped into a non-responsive coma.
Shortly before 7 am, my phone rang, bringing the news that my son had been in a very serious car accident.
I called my husband at work, and then called someone from our church to ask for prayer. As I drove to the hospital, the peace of God came was upon me. By the Spirit of the Lord, I was reminded of His precious promises. I knew that He had heard me when I asked Him to stay with Mark. I asked the Lord to spare my son’s life, but even more important than the issue of life or death was the knowledge of God’s love! It encompassed me in my car. I knew in that hour that I could trust God with my son, because God loved him enough to give His own Son for him! It was knowing that GOD LOVES US and will always do what is best that brought great peace to my soul.
At Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York doctors performed a fairly routine procedure to relieve the pressure on Mark’s brain. We were cautioned that he may not wake up for several weeks or even months, since being left “alone and unattended” would have allowed him to slip deeper into a coma. I told the neurosurgeon that my son was not alone and neither was he unattended. He looked puzzled and I did not explain. Later that night he asked me if I had any questions and I softly said, “Only ones that you cannot answer but, it’s alright – we’re looking to God.” He nodded and said that was good.
On Mother’s Day, just four days after the accident, Mark opened his eyes! Excitement filled the room and we all start talking at once. I was looking into his frightened eyes and trying to reassure him. The nurse was yelling, “Mark if you can hear me, squeeze my hand!” My husband said, “Mark if you can hear me give us a thumbs up.” The room fell silent, but when Mark’s thumb went up everyone shouted and cheered!
Doctors could make no promises – but God did
While we were greatly encouraged, we still faced a whole list of grim possibilities… amnesia, blindness, paralysis, personality changes, seizures. We were told that it was impossible to know how much brain damage had occurred, and that while many things could be re-learned, it was likely that some damage would be permanent. I do not believe that the doctors and nurses where negative in their prognosis, but they clearly made no promises. But in that hour, God sent us a promise! Our pastor, Pastor David Minor, Jr., told us that God would 100% restore Mark.
Two days later, when they removed the tube from his throat, the doctors were amazed that Mark was talking, asking questions and forming sensible sentences. The next day he was on his feet and, with a person on each side, walked around the entire unit. Later that day he was transferred out of ICU and into a regular room.
Just eight days after the accident, the neurosurgeon met Mark and my husband in the elevator. (Mark was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap to cover up the bad hair cut.) The doctor stared at him in disbelief, then held the door while he told my son and everyone in the crowded elevator that this was a miracle!
Mark returned to his job at the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps, less than seven weeks after a severe brain trauma injury.
I would still bless His name
God IS faithful! He heard my pleas in the midnight hour when I asked Him to stay with Mark. He held my son in the palm of His mighty hand. He answered my prayers and the prayers of hundreds of others who interceded. God showed me that day that He loves my children even more I do! I had peace because He showed me that I could trust in His love, no matter what happens. Even if God had chosen to reclaim the son that he gave me 19 years ago, I would still bless His name! The woman who found him and made the 911 call told us that just before he slipped into unconsciousness Mark had asked her if she was an angel. I believe that he sensed the presence of the Divine Eternal God.
We live in mortal bodies in a temporary world. The Bible says that we see is temporary, and all that we cannot see is eternal! If you do not know Him, call upon the Lord Jesus today. If your children do not know Him begin right now to pray for them each day. By faith, through the power of prayer, you can place your child’s life and soul in His capable hands.
In whatever circumstance you find yourself, the Holy Spirit can bring you strength, comfort and wisdom. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you have already received the Holy Spirit But you may not be experiencing all He has to offer. In Ephesians 5:18 we are commanded to “Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.” To be filled (truly empowered and led) by the Holy Spirit we must, in faith, acknowledge our dependence on Him and “hand Him the reins” of our life.
Why not pray this simple prayer right now, and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, we would love to hear about it!
