Excerpt

As thirteen-year-old Jessie Jacobson made an effort to open her heavy eyelids she was vaguely aware of the doorbell ringing. She noticed that the light streaming through her bedroom window cast an eerie glow onto her wall. What time was it? Did she fall asleep while reading her magazine? There was the doorbell again. Why wasnt anyone answering the door? Jessie then remembered that her mom had gone to pick up her little brother, Jake, from T-ball practice. She plopped her feet onto the hardwood floor and slowly made her way down the hall to the front door. It was obvious that whoever was at the door was not going to leave until she answered it. She looked through the peep hole, and her heart almost stopped. Two uniformed police officers were standing on her front porch. This was bad. All Jessie could think about was what she had seen in the movies. Police officers at the door always meant something horrible had happened. She couldnt move. She couldnt think. Somehow her hand reached for the door handle, twisted the knob, and managed to open the door. The tears were streaming down her cheeks as the two officers began to tell her about the accident that injured both her mother and her little brother.

Your mom and brother were driving through the intersection at Main and Owens and were broadsided by an elderly driver who ran the red light, the female officer shared. The firemen were able to rescue them from the car quickly, but they have both sustained severe injuries. They were air lifted to Creedmoor Trauma Center to make sure they would get the best care available, she continued.



Looking into Jessies eyes, the other officer said, Your mother mentioned to me that you were home by yourself. She wanted me to promise to come and personally tell you how much she loves you and to remind you that God would help you through this. At that moment, God seemed so far away and Jessie wished with all her heart that her dad didnt have to travel so often for his job. He was thousands of miles away, in Canada, when their family needed him the most. She needed him now. What was she going to do?



The next few hours were a blur to Jessie. The police officers drove her the two hours to the trauma center where her mother and brother were being cared for, but when she arrived she wasnt allowed to see either of them. All that the nurses were able to tell her was that her mother was in surgery to repair a severely fractured leg and ankle. They werent disclosing any information about Jakes condition. Jessie was alone and scared. The nurses were finally able to contact her father and after waiting through the lengthy conversation between her father and Dr. Simmons, Jessie was able to speak to her dad.

Jessie, I know you are scared and alone, but I want you to remember that even though I cant be there until morning God is with you right now, he said.

Dad, I dont know what is wrong with Jake. They wont tell me anything.

The doctors havent finished all the tests they need to do to determine the extent of Jakes injuries. Please know that they are doing all they can and that he is in Gods hands now. Remember to pray for them Jess. I love you.

I love you to, Dad. Promise me they will be the same mom and Jake when I see them again.

Jessie, you know I cant make promises like that. I can only promise you that God loves and cares for them even more than you and I do. Jessie and her dad said goodbye until morning. Jessie felt a little better after talking with her dad, but she couldnt help but wonder if God cared so much for her mother and Jake, why would He let them get into the accident in the first place? Her mom was going to be in pain for a long time, and she had no idea what was wrong with her six-year-old brother. She was petrified that he had died and they just werent telling her until her father could be with her. She prayed that she was wrong. Lord, please let Jake be alive, she whispered.