Experiencing Pain, Seeing Miracles – Psalm 50:15
What if there are some things we will not know or cannot do without experiencing pain? I am overwhelmed by God’s extravagant grace that has been poured out on me, a sinner. It was nearly a week ago, that I was running on solid ground when in an instant it began to crumble and fall apart. It was during the Saturday morning Transformation Run at Fain Park. I was enjoying what was supposed to be a day filled with recreation. First, a four-mile run, and then my son’s soccer game, followed by a trip to Tallahassee to see my Florida State Seminoles play the Oklahoma Sooners!
As I made the final turn to the finish line, I saw a small crowd cheering us on, helping us to finish strong. There were several people waving at me to hurry, so I pushed myself with one last burst of energy. Finishing the race, I said to myself, “Great race, great time, now on to the soccer game,” with Tallahassee soon to follow. And then it happened. Solid ground crumbled underneath my feet as I learned that my youngest daughter had suffered a horrible fall from the top of the bleachers at the finish line. She landed head first onto the concrete pad below from about eight feet in the air! I carried her unresponsive body into the Emergency Room. I watched them cut her clothes off her body, place a neck brace on her, and rush her into a CT scan. I listened as they called for the LifeFlight helicopter to be on standby as well as an ambulance to take her to Children’s Hospital. My wife and I were driven to our knees in the hallway of that ER calling out for God to help us!
After an ambulance ride, a team of doctors, and thousands of prayers, Caitlin Allen Quinn was discharged from the Special Care Unit at Children’s Hospital on Sunday evening. She was released into our care suffering from a Grade 2 concussion, several skull fractures, and a swollen eye. She did not however have one single injury to her brain! It was a miracle that even medical professionals acknowledge. A miracle for her, for her family, for me! I don’t have the answers as to why, just that it happened. Have you ever experienced a miracle? What is your response after witnessing a miracle of God? Psalm 50 tells us we will call on God and God will rescue us. But that’s not all. Then it says we will bring God glory! We will share God’s miracle with others. What is your response to the miracles God gives to you?
My favorite hymn has always been Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing. Last Sunday while still at Children’s Hospital awaiting news from the team of doctors, I awoke to the words of this song.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Knowing I was to miss being at my church for worship that morning, I sent this text to our Worship Leader, Jerrod Dorminey at 7:34AM:
Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.
In the midst of pain there is praise for the One who saves us all!
Praise God today, brother, praise Him! Wish I were there…
Hope you will be in church this Sunday!
Patrick, thanks for sharing this story! I, too, had joined in praying for your daughter, but didn’t have much in the way of details. I simply cannot imagine what it was like for you. The description of the world crumbling beneath your feet is a powerful image. I join you in thanking God!
Thanks Rob for your comments. Sorry for the late reply, but I appreciate your prayers and encouraging words. Hope all is well for you in KC! Many blessings…
I am so happy for Caitlin! God is so amazing and I wanted to thank u for sharing this story with us. I can only imagine how u and ur wife must have felt. I am so thankful to know how great Gods grace and love is toward us…wow! Praise God for this and his hands that were laid upon little Caitlin!
Thank you Kristina for the prayers… blessings.
Praising God for His gracious mercy!!! We had a heart stopping moment when 3 days after our only child’s birth–one we had waited for 5 years–we found out she had a heart defect that was incompatible with life. Along with countless friends and strangers, we begged God to save our child. And He did! 6 months later a surgeon successfully corrected the 4 defects in her heart, and 22 years later that little girl has finished college, has a great job, and lives with NO restrictions, NO metabolic problems, NO medications. On her chest she carries what we like to call her “running M brand”(We lived in Houston then.)to remind us all that she is a miracle. Her name is Elisabeth, which means gift of God. And thus she is.
Rejoicing with you in your miracle!
Thanks Donna for sharing your miracle story! God is so good… thankful for the many prayers for Cate!
So thankful that your precious little one is doing well….prayers continue for her …….and all of your family!
Thanks Charlotte for your prayers…
Praise God for answered prayers. So glad that Cat is doing so well and continues to improve. Will continue to pray for her, you and Rachel also. Love U guys and so thankful that you are part of our Frazer Family.
Thanks Rozanne for posting. We love our Frazer Family too! Thank you so much for prayers. God is so good!
Patrick
God Bless our Father God for this miracle. That is how you explain it that our loving Father performed a miracle for his and yalls precious daughter. Praise Him! We love you and have yall in our prayers.
Thank you once again!
Thanks for the prayers… God is so good!
Hey Patrick, Kaylee has been keeping me up to speed on Cate’s recovery. I love seeing Kaylee around, by the way. Susan Cooper and I cheered her on in the Homecoming parade yesterday. I didn’t know “Come Thou Fount” was one of your favorites. That has always been one of mine as well. In fact, I have an iunes playlist of that song, sung in different ways by different folks. Amazing. You have indeed seen the fount. We are still praying for Cate.
Caroline, thank you for posting. I really appreciate your prayers. Every time I sing “Come Thou Fount” in the future I will always think about what God did for Cate. Thanks again for your prayers and friendship…
This story is so similar to ours it is frightening and brings back so many emotions! Praise God she will be alright! It was about four years ago that the ground crumbled under our feet and brought us to our knees. I am relieved to say my daughter is not scared of heights and has no long term issues from her fall. When she was five she flipped herself over the staircase railing at our house and fell 15 feet head first to the ground, her extended arm took the initial impact, compound fracture in both bones in her fore-arm, fractured skull and lacerated liver. She was also in the PICU at Children’s but three days later when we went home we kept having to tell her to slow down. I thank God for giving us more time together. Praying for Caitlin’s recovery and long term issues she may have and praying for peace for your family. Thank you for sharing!
Mishka, thanks for sharing your story and for your prayers for Cate. God is so good!
Patrick,
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Our God is SO good! I read about the fall on facebook and was praying for y’all throughout the weekend. So glad Caitlin is okay. Miss you and Rachel – please tell her I said hello!
Hey Sarah, I hope all is well! Saw your mom last week. We miss you too! I really appreciate your prayers and encouraging words. Thanks…
God is indeed good! Patrick, I know exactly how you felt holding your little Cate. When our mother was viciously attacked in her business and stabbed 31 times, our life changed forever. Mom lived. Prayer and our Faith in God got us through. I’m so sorry you’ve experienced the fear of losing something so precious. We have so much to be thankful for and the most important is the Love of Jesus Christ. (Did I have to tell YOU that?) God Bless you and your sweet family. Carole and I are singing His praises that Cate is doing well.
Thank you Lester for your prayers and God’s miracle work in your family’s life!