HSBC Coffeebreak

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:27 NIV

I was recently visiting my in-laws in Missouri. We had had a great visit, but we were ready to return to our home. Traveling can be hard with two toddlers…you know – your children aren’t sleeping well, new people all around them, loads of activities and people to see, etc.

On the day we were to fly back to Helena, a terrible snow storm came through the St. Louis area. We waited, holding our breaths, to learn the status of our flight: CANCELED. While we easily rescheduled for the next day, I will admit I was frustrated. I distinctly remember thinking, “Doesn’t God know how badly I want to get home? How much work my husband has to do?”

That evening, about the time we would have been taking off in the airplane, I received a phone call from my mother. My brother’s oldest son, Max, who is eleven, had been in a terrible accident. My brother had been pulling him on a sled behind their ATV. Max flipped off and went backwards into a tree. At the time, we knew no details, only that he had been life-flighted to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. My mother, who lives three hours away from St. Louis, was in tears. She choked out the words, “Holly, can you drive there to be with your brother?”

Could I? I was already gathering up my things. I jumped in the car, drove slowly through the snow, and arrived at the hospital within 45 minutes. Max had just gone in for an MRI and my brother and sister-in-law were trying to figure out how to orchestrate everything so that their three younger children could get back home and with a sitter.

Without going into all the details, I saw the hand of God in every single detail of that night. I sat with my sister-in-law while Max was checked in to the Intensive Care Unit and examined. I was able to pray with her and Max. My brother’s family has recently begun attending church again and I was able to encourage my sister-in-law that God didn’t do this to punish them and even though I didn’t know why He allowed this to happen, I did know that God was all-powerful and has a special place in His heart for the broken-hearted. He would work this all for His glory.

Max suffered three broken vertebrae and a cracked skull. However, he’s back at home and recovering just fine. As a result, my brother’s family is completely connected with their new church and has memorized a Scripture that I gave Anne on a note card that night in the hospital.

I’ve no doubt He had thousands of reasons for sending a snow storm to St. Louis to cancel my flight – I feel blessed to have seen His mighty hand at work and to have been there to be an encouragement to my family.

Thank you God for being in control of all things, including the weather. Thank you also for the opportunities I have to play a role in your Kingdom. Help me to trust that when my plans go awry, You are at work. Help to me look at all inconvenient circumstances in my life as opportunities to be used by You.

Written by
Holly Hauskins