This is the form I used in speaking at my church. It was well received. I have been asked to speak in other settings on this topic and I would be willing to share again.
GBYD (God Bless Your Day)
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Our scripture passage today from 1 Corinthians 12 talked about all the different parts of the body and how we all have a certain role to play.
Have you ever thought you were going to play the role of a foot, and then all the sudden you get cast in the role of an ear?
That’s sort of what happened to me. But don’t feel sorry for me.
I have been blessed! When I think back on what happened, I wouldn’t change a thing. What I have been through has helped me to become who I am, and today I want to share part of my story with you.
I am Sheryl Anne Lehman. When I was 16 years old, I had an auto accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, often called a TBI.
That day changed my life forever. It also inspired my life.
Lately, concussions have been a common discussion item as far as athletes are concerned, but a TBI can happen any time your head is exposed to a traumatic force, be it physical, biological or emotional.
I know a man that had a motorcycle accident, a woman who had a stroke and was thrown from a horse, a woman who lost her daughter in a tragic accident, and a man that was overcome with carbon monoxide. All had different degrees of TBIs, resulting in different PTSD symptoms, or post-traumatic stress disorders.
My brain injury happened as I was driving out to get a root beer float. I don’t remember the accident, and it was months later before I was able to understand what had happened to me. My car was struck on the driver’s side tossing me to the floor on the passenger side. I was unconscious for 4 weeks. The Neuro-surgeon said that I had swelling on the brain.
Healing would come in spurts, followed by a plateau; another
shot of improvement, and another plateau. I had to start over, learning to walk, talk and learn to process choices all over again at age 16. I couldn’t even remember how to properly brush my teeth, as the dental hygienist pointed out to me!
As part of the body of Christ, I needed to depend on others. What I didn’t realize, was that others would also come to depend on me.
Everyday my best friend David would come to the hospital to support me. Years later he developed AIDS and I called him in San Diego weekly, not judging his lifestyle, but showing him God’s love. After two years, he prayed and accepted Jesus’ Salvation a few months before he died.
There are many stories of people I knew, and how relating to each one ties together. At any point our lives can be changed in an instant. Our own lives and every person in our life, suddenly and uniquely changed. I believe God is our only consistent reality.
The whole story of my accident and recovery takes a long time to tell, so I can’t possibly share it all with you today. But I have been transcribing it over the last several years, almost as a therapeutic and self-discovery process. For those interested, I have printed a few copies of my story and they are available on the table in the entryway. Everyone has something ~ a story to tell, some obvious/ some not so.
For now, I want to simply share how my accident and the TBI have affected my life in both negative and positive ways.
1) My short term memory was seriously affected.
• I often cannot remember things that I have been told, or even some of my experiences. Not always, and certainly not everything, but enough to be noticed.
• I can remember what I had for breakfast in Jr. Hi, but sometimes I can’t tell you what I ate this morning.
2) My physical limitations are more obvious.
• I limp when I walk and I continue to have some balance issues.
• My clavicles overlapped when they healed which makes me appear to have no shoulders, and I can no longer lift my arms directly above my head or behind me.
• I was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance, thus I take an antidepressant.
• Certain bodily function changes that usually happen when someone is much older, I’ve had to deal with since I was 16.
Believe it or not, the physical consequences weren’t necessarily as tough to deal with as some of the other ones:
3) I was ignored and pushed aside.
• I was once a popular, intelligent, fun teenager, and that was taken away. All of the sudden I was a different person than I had been.
And I was no longer like my friends. For a long time, I used a
walker to make my way down the halls at school, and due to my limitations, others did not know what to say so they just didn’t say anything.
I don’t blame them, or anyone. I just know that over
time, that added to my insecurities.
• It is also a reason that I try to pay attention to all people that I encounter, whatever their circumstances. I try not to ignore anyone. In my opinion, it’s just another form of bullying.
I can also empathize with people facing memory loss, because I know how debilitating it can be.
4) My dreams of having a major career came to a halt.
• I had planned to take advanced biology and advanced chemistry in high school, with hopes of becoming a horticulturist or a medical researcher. I had excelled in biology as a sophomore, but after the accident, I could no longer comprehend the functions needed.
• Music was one of my passions and I was dedicated to playing
my French horn. However, my soft pallette was damaged in the accident and I am no longer able to play an instrument. I can’t even blow up a balloon to this day. ~ Not that I need to, but should the situation arise, it’s simply not an option and I’ll have to call on one of you! [See, that’s how this “body of Christ” thing works…you cover for my area of weakness.]
These situations were difficult, and continue to affect my life today.
However, I believe there were some positive outcomes as well.
5) My love for God and the intensity of my witness has increased immensely.
• My mother stood in my hospital room and told me every day, even before I was conscious, that God had saved me for a purpose. This truth is what I continue to cling to every day of my life. God can use me for His plan.
• Had I not gone through those experiences, I might not have met my husband, who is the love of my life and forever partner. We are good for each other. I hope he doesn’t wonder what he did to deserve me and the challenges that are part of the package! I believe God brought us together. Dexter is very patient with me.
• I believe that I am better able to see the blessings in life. I will
always feel a terrific gratitude for the way my parents raised me –twice - both before and after the accident. God has blessed Dexter and me with children and grandchildren that help me to continue to grow.
• I have begun a personal ministry thanks to the venue of
the “Caring Bridge” website. I regularly connect with people as
they share their hospital stay and medical updates. I offer them
encouragement and share God’s love with them. I know how
important it is to offer a visit and a prayer to people going through a medical crisis. Everyone can use a visit and a prayer, in any situation.
It has been over thirty years since that day in July when my life
was changed forever. These many years later, I still show signs of plateau ~ improvement ~ plateau, just as the nurses from the hospital suggested I would.
I was not able to become a horticulturist or researcher to fulfill my earlier dreams.
My plans had to move in a totally different direction, but I know God is
using me right now, where I am. For a long time, I have struggled with whether or not to tell my story, and then how to tell my story. Can I help someone else by doing so? Through the encouragement of family and friends, and my belief that God wants me to share, I am doing so.
And I pray that in some way, God can use my words to help others – to give them hope that when life doesn’t go the way you thought it would, you still have a role to play.
We all make up the body of believers as 1 Corinthians 12:17-26
clearly states. We all have a purpose; we all have a story to share and talents to offer up to God.
Sometimes things happen. Our world
changes and people change ~ but God does not change. He loves you.
He has a purpose for us.
He will never leave.
We can trust Him.
Trust Him
God Bless Your Day
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I believe that God wants me to share; one on one, in front of a crowd, or in my book. In some way, God can use me.
See . . . I have been Saved for a Purpose
‘Saved for a Purpose ~ a story of healing, acceptance, and faith’ can be found on the Buffaloumc.org web page, Adult Faith Formation.
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