Tracy Liller - Shattered, Broken Restored by Grace: Marys Story of the Amazing Power of Forgiveness

S HATTERED , B ROKEN

R ESTORED BY G RACE

S HATTERED , B ROKEN

R ESTORED BY G RACE

Marys Story of the Amazing Power of Forgiveness

Tracy Liller

2019 Tracy Liller

Shattered, Broken Restored by Grace

Marys Story of the Amazing Power of Forgiveness

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Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018966482

ISBN 978-1-400324972 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-400324989 (eBook)

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C ONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

W HERE D ID T HAT V AN
C OME F ROM ?

T his day started as many others had before. I am a grandmother of eight beautiful little angels. I have four from my son, Delbert, named after his father. Their ages range from infant to five years old. My daughter, Shelby has two, both toddlers and my other daughter Lai Oshae has two, a one year old and a three year old. Its been my practice to make myself available to help out whenever they need me and lighten the load and take the kids when they need a break or have other commitments. This was one of those days. Lai Oshae lives over four hours away, so we had agreed to meet half way so I could get her girls for a few days. Lai Oshae had committed to work overtime and her weekend babysitter was having surgery. My husband and I do not get many opportunities to have these two grandkids, so we were looking forward to the next few days.

The drive was going very well and about two hours into it, I was getting close to our meeting point. Lai Oshae had picked a rendezvous spot where we could meet and split each of our drive in half. I had not driven this route before, so was not familiar with the road or the exit that I was to take. There were several things I had done on this ride that were unusual for me, but I now believe were directed by Gods hand of grace. One was I had put my phone in my purse. This was not a habit of mine, but I expected Lai Oshae to text me when she arrived at our meeting point to see where I was. I did not want the distraction or the temptation to look at my phone. Next, I had set my cruise control to the speed limit. A few weeks prior I had been pulled over when I was bringing another set of grandkids home. My five year old, Marina had me captivated in one of her delightful stories and I hadnt noticed a speed reduction on the road. The police officer had been very kind and understanding and I had assured him I would be extra careful in the future. I took this commitment to him seriously and started setting my cruise and paying more careful attention. Again, I believe this all to be part of Gods design. The third highly unusual thing was I had my radio turned off. I had taken advantage of the peaceful ride to talk to God about some things in my life that had been weighing heavy on my heart. This may seem insignificant to many, but I had known several people who had accidents because they were messing with the radio. Now, let me help you understand why these little things stand out to me. The events that were about to follow are a blur to me. There is much of it that is a total blank. I was about to be involved in the most serious, life altering event of my life. A car wreck that I would be responsible for. I would have no memory or realization of why or how this would occur. In the aftermath, this unknowing would haunt me, but these few facts would give me a small sense that God could have possibly been looking out for me, that maybe, just maybe there was a chance that I hadnt been grossly negligent in the actions leading to the horrific event that was to follow.

I was going approximately 60 miles an hour, in an express lane on an interstate. I had crossed over to the express lanes, but as soon as I had I regretted the decision. Realizing not all exits are going to come off of the express lane, I had decided to get off the next chance I got. I had glanced over to the other lanes. That traffic was a little heavier than where I was but did not seem bad. I know my attention was on the road as I waited for a chance to move over. Thats the last thing I remember, the last thing until BOOM!! It sounded like an explosion, felt like one too! My vision was totally encompassed by what I thought was a brick wall. A mass of dark red filled my windshield. What is a wall doing in the middle of an expressway?! What just happened? Why am I stopped? Why does my head hurt? Its so strange when shock sets in how your brain tries to sort reality from fiction. How you try to make sense of senselessness. It seems that minutes are going by, but in reality its mere seconds. Seconds where time stands still but the world out there is rushing in a panic!

Then, real life starts to merge with my perception. There is a man, frantic, banging on my window. Are you okay? Get out, you need to get out! Now!

As I look over to him I realize cars are buzzing by me. My truck is still sitting in the right lane and traffic in the left lane is traveling very quickly, 65-70 miles an hour beside me! I am sitting in what could be a death trap! I scoot over to the passenger door and slide out. This is the last time I will see my truck. The last time I care about my truck, from this moment Mary, the driver of the other car, will be where 100% of my attention is focused.

I was in the express lane, which meant there was a grass median to my right. As I slid out my door I saw it. I saw her! I hit a van! I had been involved in a couple serious car accidents in my life, but never had another car been involved. It hadnt occurred to me that another person could have been affected here.

There were four other people running around the burgundy (brick red) van, two men, two women- all trying to get in to help her. I ran to the van with them, equally as urgent to get to her. I could see her through her window. She was obviously not conscience, laid back in her seat, mouth open, eyes closed. It did not look good. We need to get to her right now! She needs us! She needs help! What happened?! How did this happen? It doesnt matter right now- get in there and help her! Please God, Please God!! Help her!! What happened, Oh God, What did I do?!! Please God