Normally, I use my blog time to talk about the up side of our real estate market and the silver lining in what ever issue we as an industry may be experiencing. This blog differs from that. I don't care if I get any points for it. I just felt led to share this with my AR community to give a little inspiration along the way. The following story is a true story and I am living proof of God's grace shown to my mother. I welcome your comments. Have a Blessed Day
THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULDN'T
June 14, 1961 was the final commencement of Vacation Bible School in Union City, TN. My husband was Minister of Music at First Baptist Church. After a long week of VBS, We were excited about going on our yearly trip to Ridgecrest, NC for Church Music Week. Our three boys were going to their grandparents in Louisville, KY for the week. Their clothes and other items were packed in the suitcases ready to go. I realized early in the day that I needed another suitcase and made a call to the church secretary to borrow a case. She said "sure, I'll bring it to church tonight." We had the Bible School program that night and after it was over, the secretary said "I'm sorry I forgot the suitcase". I told her that was o.k. that I would come over to her house to pick it up.
We gathered our three boys in the car and headed home. My husband said "why don't you just use a box." "No, I need a case.", I replied. As I went out the door, our middle son, Kyle, was crying to go with me. "NO" I said, "it's your bed time." This, as it turned out was the biggest NO of his life.
The secretary lived about three miles on the other side of town. I had to cross the railroad tracks to get there. At that time there were no signals and no warnings at railway crossings. The crossing was on a slight incline. On my left the way was clear. On the right was a long black warehouse which hid the approaching train. As I pulled onto the tracks and looked to the right, the train's engine was just outside the car. Everything exploded around me. I felt the steering wheel slip from my hands as if in slow motion. I was whipped around like a rag doll all over the inside of the car. I heard glass shattering as my my face went through the wind shield. My body ended up under the dash in a crumpled heap
The train had hit with such force that it picked up the car and carried it one block and dropped it on the tracks. I could hear people saying "who is it?" "Is she alive?" I put my head in my hands and with all my strength I cried three times "LORD HELP ME" "LORD HELP ME" LORD HELP ME." I felt complete Peace. I was in pain, but I was alive. A stranger crawled in the car and with some help, got me out. He had to carry me a block to the police car. The car then took me to the emergency room. You see, the ambulance couldn't get to me because the train had all the crossings blocked. Our family friend and doctor was waiting. He called the eye surgeon to close the eye punctured from the glass of the windshield. I had a broken collarbone and shoulder injury as well as deep lacerations to the face. I was totally blind for about three days and then I had only partial vision
The police called my husband and told him of the accident. A large man of stature standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, my husband was reduced to tears as he asked the officer if I was still alive He had to wait for a friend to take him to the hospital as I was driving the only car. Upon seeing me, my big strong husband leaned down and whispered to me "It's o.k., I have a strong heart. He would need that strong heart as I had about 50 stitches in my face, spent three weeks in the hospital and faced months of rehabilitation. One day the nurse brought a man to my hospital room and said "This is the man who carried you." I looked at this ordinary stranger and said "How did you carry me?" He said "You weren't heavy". Thank you Lord!!
We had a picture of our three boys, ages 2 , 4, and 6. I asked to have it in my room. Every day I looked at that picture and said, "I have three beautiful boys ALIVE". The boys stayed with their grandparents for several months as I had much to do to get strength. When I lay in bed every night. I reviewed every step of the accident until the courts took a deposition from me and miraculously those images didn't appear any more.
On September 26, 2008, I will be 80 years of age. The road has been bumpy and uncertain at times but the Lord had more for me to do on that dark June night, forty-seven years ago. He has been my Protector and Shield all these years, even protecting me from a mile long freight train.. I still have many things unfinished. Thank You Lord !!! I now have a daughter added to three boys, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Even a train cannot stop what God has not finished. AMEN.
Ethel Ruth Duvall
As told to Tammy Duvall
Franklin, TN
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