Yesterday I met the folks, (Kim and Krickitt Carpenter) whose true life story resulted in the number one movie of 2012- “The Vow” (and a best-selling book under the same title). I rarely watch television, attend movies, or read books that are love stories, but my wife told me that she saw this movie three times and cried every time.
I guess I missed out because theirs is a fascinating account of how over a 1-½ year period they met, dated, fell in love, and got married. Then they had a devastating (horrible) car crash and both very nearly died from their body shattering injuries. Krickitt got the worst of it with extremely severe head injuries which resulted in permanent loss of much of her memory, including any and all memory of her husband and her marriage.
Quite naturally she didn’t want anything to do with him even though she was married to him. It was like she was married to a complete stranger. Imagine waking up one day and seeing some strange man and everyone including him telling you that you were married to him. She wasn’t buying it and rejected Kim and their marriage.
Long story short, her husband Kim loved her very deeply and in spite of her adamant rejection of him, resolved to win her back. It was a long and extremely difficult journey, but eventually their faith in God combined with prayer enabled them to begin dating and eventually they fell in love again, and married for the second time, and went on to have some kids and are now enjoying life together.
She still has no recollection of him prior to the accident and in essence he won her heart all over again. The remarkable thing about this story is that it has spread like wildfire all over the world. The book has been reprinted in approximately 23 languages. And get this: The President of Communist China recently wrote their publisher and wants their book distributed in Red China AS IS! That means he liked that movie and book so much that he authorized (a book that in part credits Christ and prayer with saving their marriage) to be distributed throughout that communist Godless country.
Wow! God’s plan is manifesting itself all over the world.
I reader of WFTD who volunteered to translate my book into Spanish wrote to me recently and said in part, “For sure God knew all along that you had to suffer and go through all the loneliness, violence and decadence that you lived through. I was wondering the other day when I was translating the passage where you were in Canada and you beat up that other fellow, and how when you thought that nobody would pick you up in the dark and empty road – out of nowhere a car did stop and a young man gave you a ride. He gave you shelter and hot soup and then he took you to the “Sally Ann”, (Salvation Army) – and that nice lady told you that she loved you . . . I got to thinking God was looking after you then.
I think your whole life has been a plan of God’s.
I read your book twice and three times now that I’m translating it. Your story has had a great impact on me. Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be . . . ”
Hmmm . . . Maybe it is!
Many times in life we feel all alone, but we should remember that God is “looking after us”, even when we’re drowning in sin. We should also take note that no matter how bleak our situation might appear, God has a plan for our life and make no mistake He loves us.
Don’t ever give up on God because He’ll never give up on you. The Carpenters learned that lesson and so did I. God doesn’t view things as they currently are, but rather how they can be!
Never lose hope and trust in the Lord even through those dark gloomy days. Look for God’s plan in your life especially when bad stuff comes raining down in torrents. I’ve found that there is purpose for most everything that’s ever happened in my life and I feel sure that if you will look back on things that occurred in your life and look for God therein, you’ll see where He was moving in your life as well . . .
Who knows maybe you’ll put a Christian book into one of the four remaining Communist countries in the world as a result of your tribulation . . .
Jer. 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
October 30, 2013 – Click here to listen