Not Too Far From Here ~ An Answered Prayer

There was a tragic accident near our home in Rockport, Texas, many years ago. 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 I did. 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, and my heart broke for her. The article went on to say that the father and daughter had been taken to a hospital in Aransas Pass where their four-year-old daughter later died, and that the mother and nine-year-old son were taken to a hospital in Corpus Christi where their son was in ICU with internal injuries.

Not Too Far From Here

About twenty years ago I had a favorite song called “Not Too Far From Here,” sung by Kim Boyce. I had her cassette tape and listened to it over and over while singing along.  The beautiful lyrics touched my heart, and I couldn’t listen to it without becoming misty-eyed. It became a heartfelt prayer.

With permission from its writer, Steve Siler, I want to share the lyrics with you before continuing my story:

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

Godincidence?

I couldn’t help but imagine what the mother must have been going through, being separated from her husband and daughter at the moment 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.

It just so happened that my son was scheduled to take a standardized test the next morning at a church just a few blocks from the hospital in Corpus Christi. 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 the next morning. Five-year-old Margaret drew a picture to give her.

Stepping Out in Faith

After dropping my son off at the testing site, I took my daughter and went to the hospital. I sat nervously in the parking lot, imagining a variety of scenarios and summoning my courage.

How would she respond to a perfect stranger bothering her at a time like this?

Would the hospital even let me try?

What would I say?

You Must Be a Christian

We went up to ICU and I did my best to explain to the nurse why I was there. While she went to tell the mother, Margaret and I found seats and waited nervously.

When she 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 longer, 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 shared her happy news with me and even sent an ultrasound picture.

Revelation

Years later, while remembering those events, the lyrics to that song returned to me. While singing along I had prayed that God might use me, and that I wouldn’t shy away from such an opportunity. In that moment, He revealed that He had answered my prayer, and amazingly, it had all literally happened not too far from me.

 

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.

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

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