Three Years: Strengthened and Supported

Tomorrow is January 8th, and the third anniversary of our friend Michael Einfeldt’s devastating car accident.  It’s a day that I will never forget, because of the impact that it made on our lives and on the lives of so many that we love.  In the days and weeks and months that would follow, we’d spend an incredible amount of time doing what we could to love and support Michael and his family throughout the early days of his recovery.

This was a familiar sight for the first three months.

Michael spent most of his time in the ICU at Stony Brook, surrounded by family and friends who visited around the clock.  In those early days, I remember that no matter what was happening through his many highs and lows, God was working His goodness and love into Michael’s life in numerous ways.

I spent a lot of time visiting Michael and his mom Sally, who was pretty much non-stop by his side.  Sally would often share what God was revealing to her as she prayed for her son.  One particular day, she shared that she believed that “God is using Michael to show that there is still a lot of good in the world” and that “there is Hope for us.”  I personally believe that hope is what kept this family strong during this time.

Michael would eventually become strong enough to be transferred out of the ICU and to a Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab up in Kings Park.  His family and friends would continue to make trips to see him and support him through his recovery.

He’d spend close to a year at that Rehab and then more time at two other ones.  Medically, he would have many ups and downs and surgeries and procedures  because of the extent of his traumatic brain injury.  But all the while, his family was working hard in a variety of ways because they wanted to bring him to where he belonged, they wanted to bring him home.

And praise Jesus because this past March, Michael was finally able to come home!  And home has been the most wonderful place for Michael to be.  Home is where he is surrounded by his family and since coming home, he has been so incredible.  Health wise, he is stable and working every day towards continuing to rehab his body and his brain.  At home, he is able to go out weekly for Rehab as well as receive wonderful care from wonderful people who come to work with him each week.

The best part for us is that since Michael is home, he is also able to come to church which is where we get to see him nearly every week.  Often times during church I’ll hear Michael and I always look forward to talking to him after the service.  Most of the time, he has a big smile and it brings incredible joy to my heart.

I love this picture because to me, it shows the strength and love of the Einfeldt family.  And even though Michael’s accident completely changed his life and his circumstances, it never once changed the love that his family had for him.  In many ways, I believe that it strengthened it, in ways that one could never have imagined.

I wanted to find something significant about three years.  So, I do what I often do, and utilized Google to connect me to verses about three years.  And it brought me to the story of Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles.  For the record, Rehoboam wasn’t great.  He was a king of Israel, but not the best because often times he did what he wanted, instead of what God wanted him to do.  But throughout his life, he had some moments of goodness.  And during one particular one, he actually rallied the priests and Levites from Israel who came to support him.

In 2 Chronicles 11 it says that “Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers.  They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, walking in the ways of David and Solomon during this time.”

And to me, this verse honors the beauty of Michael’s past three years and all of those who came to strengthen and support him and his family.  Life holds no guarantees and we never know the challenges that we will face.  But often times in tragedy, people rise above to help and serve others in the most beautiful ways bringing goodness during much needed times.

Tomorrow is January 8th, and the third anniversary of our friend Michael Einfeldt’s devastating car accident.  And tonight I wanted to share this post to honor Michael and his family and to remember all that God has done.  I’ll leave you with Philippians 4:19 and the reminder that no matter what you might face in life, God promises to meet and supply all that you need.  It’s been beautiful to see the ways that He has done this for Michael and I love that I know that God can do this for us all.