A post from Kait's Dad

I am Kaitlin’s Dad. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who have encouraged us through prayer, meals, emails, texts, errands, financial contributions…..it’s been truly humbling.  Kaitlin’s accident has been the most incredibly painful and terrifying experience in my life.  I can’t imagine going through something like this without the miraculous power of love and community provided by our Creator.  

Kaitlin is quite an encourager for fellow patients.  She continues to “pressure” them to show up for our Broncos parties, so we had another great time yesterday afternoon.  Kaitlin is now allowed off campus from Craig Hospital.  She’s been home a few times with John (I heard it felt wonderful to help clean the kitchen), and she’s been to the movie theater, as well as out to dinner.  I can only imagine how encouraging it must be to get out and do something “normal”.  She is working so hard at Craig with great courage and determination.  I’m so proud of her.  I’m also tremendously proud of John and his devotion to his sweet bride.  Many decisions about house renovations are taking place.  We are praying for the work to start soon so that Kaitlin can have complete independence when she returns home, hopefully sometime in mid-November.       

We are constantly uplifted and encouraged by your prayer support.  Jesus used many parables to teach his disciples.  One such parable was about praying without giving up.  His example told about a widow who kept pleading for justice from a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  For some time the judge refused, but finally he said “even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice”.  Jesus said “will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?  Will He keep putting them off?”     

With that in mind, I pray for my sweet daughter day and night.  Please join me in praying for her broken vertebrae to fuse correctly.  Please pray for her spinal cord to heal, one neuron at a time.  I was on my knees praying in the hospital chapel during Kaitlin’s neurosurgery. I prayed for a healing miracle, and I continue praying for that miracle every day.  God has provided steady healing, and I’m not giving up in asking for walking legs.  He has made it crystal clear to me that He plans to magnify His Kingdom through this, and miracles beyond my imagination will take place.  I refuse to give up my hope and faith, and will patiently and excitedly wait to see what the miracles will look like.

We have all been wounded in some way by this accident.  I constantly rely on an eternal perspective for strength and hope.  God promises we will all be made perfect in Heaven.  There will be no more tears.  I envision ski slopes beyond imagination, incredible mountains to climb, trout streams galore, and we’ll be made new to enjoy them forever.  I call on the words of the apostle Paul when he wrote “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.  And the God of peace will be with you”.

Thank you for your love, caring and compassion.  Please continue to join me in prayer for a better tomorrow for Kaitlin.  

Mark