Reflections: Change Happens – A Story…
“Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” C.S. Lewis
Reflections: Change Happens - A Story... The Raising of Lazarus ... and Jim Boy...
I told him where I was going, and he hurried me out, pointing to the door with the gun, but what he didn’t know was… that the gun was a figment of his imagination and Jim Boy was having another moment of delusional disconnect from the world of the living. Sure, he was holding a gun alright; one of Jim Boy junior’s toy guns… Since the accident, Jim Boy’s life had turned into a living hell. He was a kind and loving father of two, his wife, Maya, was a cheerful woman and a gifted cook. Their lives were perfect and the arrival of son, Jim Boy junior, and daughter, Jina Raye, gave meaning to their lives. Then the accident took it all away or so I and all their friends thought…
“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” Winston Churchill
Reflections: Change Happens - A Story... A miraculous miraj...
The accident occurred on a sunny fall morning as Jim Boy was driving to work. That morning, he had gotten up early, lifted some weights, ran a half mile on the treadmill and took a hot shower before nudging Maya, who was fast asleep in bed, to let her know he was feeling a bit odd and had a headache… “Take the day off and let you boss know you are sick…” she said. “No, I’ll be fine, they need me,” he replied. He got in his car and on the way to work had a brain aneurysm and crashed off the Taconic Parkway; first slamming his 2011 Acura MDX into the rocks, and then the metal dividers, and finally on soft grass near one of the exits. The car was totaled, Jim Boy was saved by the driver side airbag that inflated with such velocity it cracked his ribs but saved his life. The ambulance arrived quickly, and both the cops and paramedics agreed that someone up there was watching. The Taconic is a windy, narrow, downhill bitch of a drive with no shoulder, and not a place to lose control of a car or crash into anything. Jim Boy was very lucky.
“The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.” James Matthew Barrie
Reflections: Change Happens - A Story... miracle of Lourdes skyline..
Jim Boy’s recovery was slow and painful. He had to learn all his basic skills again and had lost some function on his right side. He walked with a limp, pulling his right leg slowly as he made his way from room to room. Jim Boy was determined to get his old life back and swore (something he did a lot of since the accident), he would regain his life and all his functions again. One of the residual problems he suffered from were moments of disconnect from reality. Whenever he started having these psychotic moments, Maya would call the doctor asking for help. Tests were run, specialists consulted, but no one could figure out why he was having these episodes. Sure, the accident played a part in his problems, ditto the brain aneurysm, but he would go from being okay and responding well to physical therapy and other medical therapies to utter madness… Maya was at her robe’s end.
“Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people’s souls.” Melody Beattie
Reflections: Change Happens - A Story... Our Lady of Vladimirskaya... bless us...
That fateful Sunday morning, Maya called me hysterical… “Jim Boy is threatening us, please come talk to him!” I rushed over; my heart in my mouth and a prayer on my lips. When he saw me, he started yelling about Nosy Parker neighbors who interfere in family matters. “I should tell Father Gabriel to speak about this at the pulpit. I’m sick of y’all!” He yelled. “Would you like me to get Father Gabriel?” I asked cautiously, I didn’t want to get him worked up, but maybe the good reverend could talk some sense into him. After all, Jim Boy and Maya were active members before the accident, and he had a good relationship with the reverend and many members of the congregation. He was an Elder in the Church of Saint Michael and this might help. He glared at me, went into the family room, came back into the dining room were we were gathered, and then next thing I knew, he was waving a gun at us. Maya gasped before realizing it was a toy gun. She looked at me and whispered, “Please don’t tell him it’s a toy…” I nodded.
“Listen Jim Boy, let me go get Father Gabriel, he can help,” I said, turning to Maya to get her approval too. “What, what, where the F@#&* are you going?” he muttered. I told him where I was going, and he hurried me out, pointing to the door with the gun, but what he didn’t know was… that Father Gabriel would save the day. He came and calmed Jim Boy down. He prayed with him and the family and blessed their home… Father Gabriel promised Jim Boy that moving forward, until he is fully recovered, a member of the congregation would stop by their home to pray with him every day. They did and, over time, Jim Boy found peace and calm inside; gradually making a full and miraculous recovery. Change happens … if we believe in miracles that manifest in many different ways. What are your thoughts? what stories would you share? Do you have a favorite one with a magical ending? Do share! Thank you. 🙂
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Write a story by finishing this sentence… The story can be as long or short as you wish. I told him where I was going, and he hurried me out, pointing to the door with the gun, but what he didn’t know was…
Positive Motivation Tip: Our lives are about stories; real and invented stories… Live yours.
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos The Raising of Lazarus , Miraj by Sultan Muhammad, Lourdes Skyline, and Our Lady of Vladimirskaya, via Wikipedia.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
How is Jim Boy today? What a tragedy to suffer an accident like that and to lose your bearings on top. I hope he is well.
TY Miriam… It is a fictional story I wrote using the prompt WP Daily Post offered. TY for your feedback and for inquiring. 🙂
Nicely done on that story prompt. After a busy day at work, I couldn’t see it as a jumping off point–wasn’t happening. Pasa buen dia!
I hear you… I was going to avoid it too but because I have had a hectic week and I continue to attend workshops for the weekend, I figured I’d give it a try… Once I started writing, I was nicely surprised to find a story emerging… TY! 🙂
I was pulled into your story from the first line. Glad it has a hopeful ending. So many of them don’t.
TY Marcia! I appreciate the feedback. I wasn’t sure how it will end but I like the ending too… This was fun fictional piece to write. TY! 🙂
I prefer real stories, biographies, auto-biographies 🙂
This is real in the sense that events like this do happen every day; in households across the nation… TY! 🙂
Lovely and inspirational story! I also really enjoy all the quotes you post. In this post my favourite one was the Winston Churchill quote. So true!
And thanks for linking up over at my Blog Hop. Much appreciated! I look forward to new posts at Positive Kismet. 😉 Although I can understand you have your hands full with this blog. Have a continued wonderful weekend Eliz!
TY for hosting the hop… I haven’t had or joined one in awhile…:-) TY for enjoying the story Yes, I like that quote too. 🙂
Live today. Tomorrow’s life may be too late. 😀
Very true – my laundry can wait – I may never need it!
That is true… Enjoy life while you can. TY! 🙂
So true… life is full of surprises! TY! 🙂
A truly amazing experience, E. I have to ask – was this real or invented? I feel it was real, but then you are an exceptional writer, so maybe it isn’t?
It is an invented story. But you know Robyn, as I wrote the story, it kinda wrote itself and flowed as if real… fascinating… TY for you kind words. 🙂
It takes a heart like yours to find a miracle in that prompt. Beautifully done, Elizabeth. I doubt anyone else could end with this kind of hope. We all hope for miracles. I know a lot of people who could use a Father Gabriel like this one – send him my way if he materializes… 😉
TY Karen, your comment is appreciated… I love your posts and I bet you can pull this one off too. 🙂 As for Father Gabriel, I need him too… 🙂
Awesome story! 🙂 I love how it ends.
TY Sharon and the ending was a surprise for me too. Yes, I wrote the post but it didn’t have an intended end… I was happy when the idea for the ending came… 🙂
Well done Elizabeth. I’ve been the recipient of miracles from accidents, among other things.
Glad this was fiction.
b
I hear you. Thanks for your comment… miracles are a blessing and open to all of us… Yes, it is fictitious. TY! 🙂
Really well done on the story prompt, Elizabeth. 🙂
TY Robin,
Honestly, it was spur of the moment because I was feeling tired and couldn’t think of what else to do… TY for the kind words… appreciated. 🙂
Wow, you’re truly a very talented and gifted writer! I was taken in from the very first word:)
TY so much that is so sweet and I appreciate your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it… 🙂
Thanks for stopping by to share information on that site… It is very handy. Fortunately, I have not broken any bones as an adult. TY! 🙂