Sams Testimony
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I am saved from so many things in my life. I have witnessed the damage that things of this world can do to your life. Namely alcohol. I grew up drinking and always thought that there was nothing wrong with it. I had a sister who was my best friend and also a father and mother. My father, known throughout the neighborhood as a great guy to be around, always had patience and lots of fun for us kids. I could talk to him about anything, except drinking. I finally gave up trying to bring the subject up to him and figured it was ok. Not long after this I found myself in a situation.
I went out with a few friends for the day to go to Lake Michigan. We picked up a case on the way and my two friends started drinking. I decided the responsible thing to do was to keep away from the beer until we got back. I did manage to keep from drinking until we got back home. Upon getting back to my house I started in, but after about three beers my buddy asked me if we could run into town. I told them no problem, since they had been drinking all day and I had only had a few. Not even one mile on our way I suddenly found myself in darkness. I had no idea what happened. I remembered that I was just heading into town with my two buddies. I couldn’t see a thing, but I could hear a voice yelling at me. “Sam, Sam, get up!”. Then another, “Is he dead?”. Finally I opened my eyes to find that my head was on the dashboard and the steering wheel was broken off on my lap. The voices were from my friends who were trying to get out of the vehicle.
Today I thank God that we all survived that situation. You see, we had hit a tree head on at about 70mph. The tree stopped between the passenger seat and my seat. We were transported to the hospital where they put my face and nose back together with over 80 stitches and surgery. I learned a very important lesson that night. I learned that even a little bit of alcohol can mess with your judgment even when you are an experienced drinker. My blood alcohol was only .08 and I nearly killed myself and two of my best friends.
This is a lesson that I wish my sister would have learned long ago. About two years after my accident I moved back in with my father for a short while. My sister moved to Tampa and we had just had a great visit with her. As she often did she reminded me how stupid I was when I got into that accident. We both laughed about it and I reminded her that I had learned my lesson and I didn’t drink and drive anymore. This was true. She returned to Florida after about three days of visiting and a few weeks later we got a telephone call. It was about three in the morning and I knew something was wrong. My Dad came down to my apartment and told me Jenny,(my sister), had been in an accident. We didn’t know much about what kind of shape she was in other than the doctors suggested we get down there. We called my Mother and Step-Dad and told them what had happened. That day we all flew down to Tampa to see her. When we got to the hospital we were led to the I.C.U. unit. There she laid. Totally unresponsive and hooked up to all kinds of wires and machines. She and a bunch of her friends were out drinking and they rear ended a semi. Her head was crushed between the roof and dashboard of her car. Two days later she died.
My Dad still didn’t change his drinking habits much even after my accident and my sisters. It may sound sad, but I expected him to die the same way. Every day after work or whenever he came home late I just knew I’d get a call. Four years after my sisters death, I got that call. I had been bow hunting that morning and when I came in I hit the couch for a nap. I was awakened by my neighbor soon after I laid down. He walked right in the house, “Come on, there’s been an accident and I think its your Dads van!”. This neighbor is also one of my Dads best friends. I’m sad to say that my first thought wasn’t, “Is he alright?”, or “How did it happen?”. On the contrary my first thought was that it finally did happen. What I had feared, what I had warned him about, what I had been through, with myself and my sister was happening again. I did go to the accident with a glimmer of hope that maybe it wasn’t his van, but the truth was ingrained in my heart and
I was already mourning him. The mangled mess of metal vaguely resembled any vehicle. He was flown out and pronounced dead at the hospital. My mother came down to my house immediately and held me like I was her baby boy again.
Here I was, 24years old, I had nearly killed myself at one point, I watched my sister die for three days, and now I was bawling like a baby in my mothers arms. She didn’t say a word, she just held on tightly and cried along with me. The lesson that should have been learned, was ignored. Having God slap them in the face with the truth over and over, didn’t mean a thing. Now I am married to a wonderful wife. I have two children; a boy 16 years old, and a girl that is 12. I take them to visit their grandfather and aunt Jenny every now and then, but if you ask them about their grandfather they will not tell you what a truly giving man he was. They will not tell you how he always had time to play whenever any of us kids wanted. They will not tell you how aunt Jenny loves to read them stories when she visits or how cool she is. The only thing they will tell you is how pretty grandpas picture is on that stone, or how aunt Jennys tombstone reads, “Walk slowly, we are right behind you”.
I thank God that he has delivered me from alcohol. I accepted him, asked for
forgiveness, and gave my life to Him. Now I can tell you with all confidence that my kids will never remember me as a stone in a big cemetery, but as someone who tries to give God and family his best every single day. I hope that this true story of my life touches your heart. Christ can take away any bind on your life if you give it to Him.