On October 10, 1988, Sandy was run over by a log truck. The log truck had dumped its load of wood and jacked up its eight-wheel, rear tandem axle.
Both the large log truck and the small Toyota truck entered the old Calcasieu River Bridge near Hineston, Louisiana, at the same time, and the truck’s rear tandem axle broke loose.
With the log truck in the other lane and two guard rails on either side of this narrow, two-lane bridge, there was nowhere to go. The eight wheels rolled over the little Toyota, completely removing the roof and the side Sandy was on.
The passenger’s door caved in around her and kept her organs from being crushed.
Her recovery was very slow—we ate Thanksgiving dinner at Rapides Regional Hospital!
It was a profoundly lonely time, and the emotional distance between Sandy and me began to grow.
Early one January morning before dark, I was on my knees confessing, “Lord, I still love Sandy, but I don’t like her anymore.”
As I knelt, I sensed the Lord impressing me to get up, make Sandy a cup of coffee the way she likes it, bring it to her, and get in bed beside her. Then I took her hand and prayed out-loud with her.
That was when we began to pray together daily for the first time—in addition to private and family worship—holding hands and pouring out our hearts to God.
It was the best thing that ever happened to our marriage, and it is something we still do. What is my evidence that she actually went to heaven?
Sandy has always been a completely selfless person, whose delight was serving others. However, her mother raised her to be shy and afraid of many things such as thunderstorms and people. After she returned from heaven, she was completely set free from all fear!
My late dear friend, Merrill Blackburn recorded it for me. Sandy gives her testimony at the five-minute mark of this video that was filmed on October 19, 2014.
Bob