Not Too Far From Here ~ An Answered Prayer

When my son was a toddler, I had a favorite song called, “Not Too Far From Here,” sung by Kim Boyce. I listened to it over and over while singing along. The beautiful lyrics touched my heart and I couldn’t listen to them without becoming teary-eyed. The song became a heartfelt prayer.

With permission from its writer, Steve Siler, I want to share the lyrics with you. (There’s a link to where you can listen to it at the bottom of this post)

Not Too Far From Here

Somebody’s down to their last dime,
Somebody’s running out of time,
Not too far from here
Somebody’s got nowhere else to go
Somebody needs a little hope
Not too far from here
And I may not know their name
But I’m praying just the same
That You’ll use me Lord to wipe away a tear
‘Cause somebody’s crying
Not too far from here
Somebody’s troubled and confused
Somebody’s got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here
Somebody’s forgotten how to trust
Somebody’s dying for love
Not too far from here
It may be a stranger’s face
But I’m praying for Your grace
To move in me and take away the fear
‘Cause somebody’s hurting
Not too far from here
Help me, Lord, not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me Your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep
Now, I’m letting down my guard and I’m opening my heart
Help me speak your love to every needful ear
Jesus is waiting
Not too far from here
Oh, Jesus is waiting
Not too far from here

About seven years later, there was a tragic accident not too far from our home in Rockport, Texas. I still vividly remember the article on the front page of our small town’s newspaper. It was Memorial weekend and a family was coming to Rockport on vacation, but just as they were about to cross the bridge into town, they were hit by a drunk driver.

The article gave a lot of detail: It was a family of four, just like mine. They were driving a Ford Expedition just like mine. Their daughter was a year younger than mine (almost exactly) and was seated behind the driver’s seat where mine normally sat. Their son was the same age as mine and sat in the center of the third row where mine normally sat.

These similarities made it easy for me to put myself into the mother’s shoes and imagine myself in her place. My heart broke for her.

The article went on to say that the father and daughter had been taken to a hospital in nearby Aransas Pass where their four-year-old daughter died, and that the mother and nine-year-old son were taken to a hospital in Corpus Christi, about thirty minutes further away, where he was in ICU with internal injuries.

I couldn’t help but imagine what the mother must have been going through. She had been separated from her husband and daughter when they lost her, and I didn’t think that she would have family or friends with her since they didn’t live in the area.

Godincidence?

It just so happened that my son was scheduled to take a standardized test the next morning at a church not too far from the hospital. I felt like God was nudging me to go see her.

Even though it was way out of my comfort zone, I made some brownies and gathered a few magazines to take to her. My five-year-old daughter drew a picture for her.

After dropping my son off at the testing site, my daughter and I went to the hospital. Sitting nervously in the parking lot, I imagined a variety of scenarios:

How would a grieving mother respond to a total stranger at a time like this?

Would the hospital even let me see her?

What would I say?

At the ICU desk I tried to maintain my composure while explaining to the nurse why I was there. When she went to tell the mother, I sat with Margaret and waited nervously.

When the mother walked through the doors and approached us, I felt very awkward. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but something to the effect that I was from Rockport and had read about her family’s accident in the newspaper and that I just wanted her to know that I cared.

But I remember exactly what she said to me: “You must be a Christian.”

I don’t think there’s a more wonderful thing that could have been said to me. We hugged and cried together. Margaret and I gave her the things that we had brought, and after talking a little while, we excused ourselves and left.

The mother and I kept in touch for quite awhile after that. About a year later when she became pregnant, she sent me a card with her happy news and even included an ultrasound picture.

Did You See What I Did There?

One night as I laid down in bed, these events suddenly filled my mind and I felt an urgency to get back up to write it all down. The words rolled off the tips of my fingers as if God was dictating to me, and it wasn’t until I was typing it all out that I realized how many times I wrote “not too far.”

While singing those lyrics years earlier, I had prayed that God might use me, and that I wouldn’t shy away from such an opportunity. In that moment, He pointed out how literally He had answered my prayer.

 

Listen to Kim Boyce’s beautiful presentation of Not Too Far From Here.

You can read more about this beautiful and moving song in Music For The Soul, Healing For The Heart, written by Steve Siler.  I gratefully thank Mr. Siler for giving me permission to include his lyrics in my story.  It wouldn’t be the same without them.