It could have been anyone, but it happened to be Len’s* wife. In her mid-thirties, this attractive mother of three looked forward to completing a master’s degree in a few more months, fulfilling a dream of many years. She left her morning classes and drove toward her home in suburban Dallas. Her light was green as she approached the intersection and she had no reason to think there was any problem.
The driver of the dump-truck, loaded with 15 tons of dirt, wasn’t thinking at all as he approached his red light at the same intersection. By the time he connected to reality, it was too late to stop. His gigantic vehicle rammed like a missile through the driver’s door of the Toyota Camry, cutting the car into two pieces and instantly killing Len’s wife and the mother of his three children. Within the space of two seconds, the unthinkable had become a reality.
Through a pastor friend, Lyn sought our legal counsel, so the pastor and three of us from the law office flew to Dallas last night to meet him. Before joining him, we joined our own hearts in prayer, asking God to work in this terrible situation, to comfort this bereaved brother, and to use us for healing and encouragement in whatever way he wished. We could not know that God would use Lyn to enrich and encourage us.
“My little girl asked me why God allowed this to happen,” he confided. “I told her we don’t know, but God was with Mommy when the truck hit her and she is now safe with Jesus.” He recounted precious moments with his wife early in the morning of the day she would die. He remembered how God had arranged his job situation a year before, giving him more time with his family. Saturdays had become “Dad’s Day” with the kids, to allow Mom quiet time to study for her classes. Several months ago, the two of them had felt led by God to retreat from some of the busy church activities they had previously managed, to share more time with each other. He reflected on all these details now as special tokens of God’s mercies.
Lyn didn’t have answers and neither did we. But he clearly had God’s presence, and his peace. He knew that his beloved wife was in Christ’s loving care and that he will see her again one day. He was confident that the heavenly Father will be there for him and his children as he tries to be both father and mother. His faith blessed us. His hope warmed our souls. His love for Christ, for his children, for his departed wife, enriched our hearts and put lesser concerns in clear perspective. The unthinkable had occurred. But God was there also. Somehow life will go on.
(*Lyn is not his real name.)