As we were wishing ‘Happy New Year’ to each other, tears sparkled in my eyes. Tears of hope, resilience, happiness and gratitude. A lot has happened in the last year, actually the past two, and since my accident, every new day has felt like a miracle for me for which I am grateful. 

I used to be this carefree girl traveling around the world until 2020 hit us all. It’s a year no one will ever forget. It’s a year that has taken so much from us. But it was also a year we learned that we need each other, that kindness still exists, and that nothing can be taken for granted. It was a reminder that each day we have on this Earth is a gift. And whilst every day may not be a good day, there is something good in every day. 

Wiping away a tear that had found its way from my eye and was rolling down my cheek, I was reminded of the tears that flooded down my face the day after my accident. It has now been two years since the accident that changed my life in a split second.

The accident

As the end of 2020 approached, and we all hoped for a better year ahead, my trial was only just beginning. It had been an ordinary day, amid an extraordinary year. As I was returning home from work, a van hit me as I was crossing a road. Upon opening my eyes, I found myself on the floor, unable to move. But I was grateful that I could at least open my eyes.

I was admitted to the hospital in the middle of another Covid related lockdown. Doped up on morphine, I didn’t feel the pain that evening. However, the pain awoke me early the following morning once the drugs had stopped working. With every movement, I could feel pain in my back.

Tears flowed from my eyes as I tried to lift my legs. They were tears of pain but also happiness as I managed to lift my legs. Not much, only a subtle movement, but at that moment I knew I would be ok. Even though the doctors said the recovery would be long, I knew that one day I would be ok again. “Thank you, God,” I whispered as pain engulfed my body. And I started to pray. Because even if no one is around, God is always with us.

A good plan

More than two years have now passed since that day. But the memory is still etched in my mind as if it was only yesterday. It’s hard to forget something whilst we are still dealing with the consequences of the event. But this also serves as a reminder that nothing is in our control. We can plan, but we don’t have the last say, not even in things that seem so straightforward. 

God has a plan for us. And although we may not always understand it, in the end, it will be for the best. So, as I wished the best to family and friends while wiping that tear off my face, I thanked God. Because as hard as my journey of recovery has been over the past two years, it has also been filled with miracles. Miracles that I probably would have been taken for granted two years ago. Once we have hit rock bottom it becomes easier to notice the blessings that come our way.

So much to thank God for

There is so much I can thank God for, but mainly that He has left me on this Earth for a bit longer. And I know that He has done so for a reason. I am not just a trauma survivor, but a warrior who has found a purpose in her pain. As I embarked on the journey of recovery, I also found a silver lining in the dark cloud. 

After a long break, I returned to my passion, writing. And I am so grateful to God for this. This may not be a way I would have chosen, but perhaps I had refused God’s earlier attempts. Maybe this was the only way that led me back to where I have always belonged. And I haven’t ignored His calling this time. I started to put my words on paper again and share them with you. 

And through my words, I want to encourage you, cheer you on, and comfort you as you unwrap the gift of a new day. Because even if the past year has been full of obstacles and unexpected challenges, every day is a gift beyond measure. So let us embrace pain with joy, grief with grace, and darkness with light. Whilst we may not be able to escape the suffering, we can find beauty in what grows in its wake. Discover life’s beauty and be grateful for the gift of a new day.   

Meet Katy Parker

Where to find her . . .

• Website
• Instagram

Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.

If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.

Creating Ripples

If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.