Hills and Valleys’, Three Years Later by Susan Browder

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 1I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”  Philippians 4:11-12

Jacob & Nick

Next week I will pick up where I left off with Jacob’s story.  I want to mention that tomorrow, September 6th, it will be 3 years since his injury.  Every year when the anniversary of this horrific day approaches, I glance back in my thoughts to that night and compare it to where Jacob is today.  Oh how my head spins as pictures of his healing race through and all I can do is smile and have a heart full of gratitude for the Lord.  We all experience mountain tops and deep valleys.  I can’t compare any other difficult time in my life that was as heavy and as heartbreaking as September 6, 2014 and the weeks that followed.  

My Sunday school class just finished the Matt Chandler study, “To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain.”  In session 12, Matt Chandler speaks of a day that was so horrible in his life that he can never find a day that will top it as the most difficult day in his life.  But he also says that he had so many interactions with the Lord during this time that he would have never had.  That is exactly how I feel about this time in our lives.  My family had so many beautiful interactions with the Lord during this time.  We all came out differently because of these interactions.  It sure was difficult to be content during the toughest time in our life.  This was a process for us.  It was by far the hardest thing we have ever done.  It’s natural for people to lose their minds and be angry when tough times are experienced especially with our children. Only God can move in situations for you to experience contentment.  The only way it happened was through prayer and trusting God to get us through it and bring us out of it as better people and through the healing of our son.  We had peace knowing that God was in control of all that was happening.  We were totally dependent on God and this was our “game changer.”  

Jacob’s First Taxidermy Mount

So three years later, where is Jacob today?  Well let me just tell you.  He is about to finish his first 6 weeks of Taxidermy School in Georgia and will start his second Taxidermy School in Tennessee.  He is thriving.  He is walking like nothing ever happened and his running continues to get better.  We still pray for coordination to improve but it is so good compared to where Jacob started.  We pray for his memory to improve also.  

Every day Jacob wakes up with a smile.  That smile speaks volumes to me daily and reminds me how good and faithful God is. Whatever your toughest time in your life is, just think back and look at how God moved you through the desperation.  Seek him, get to know him, and focus on him.   

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10

https://youtu.be/p4rRCjrAyCs  Tauren  Wells  Hills and Valleys

Counting My Blessings,

Susan Browder