It's Ok! I Had a Stroke

Book excerpt: Happy in his dream career as a restorer of exotic Italian sports cars, suddenly life comes to a screeching halt at age 46 with the question, “What now?!” Brian Lloyd journeys from fast track to fervent faith--learning to call on God in the midst of the storm: As I started realizing what was happening, I noticed I had lost function on the entire left side of my body. You know, when you're suddenly unable to move . . . the 911 call is for you and the rescue squad arrives--that's a sobering feeling. You can't even put yourself on the stretcher, and these strangers have to pick you up and move you. You see your wife trying to be strong, but you see the worry and despair in her eyes. I didn't even get to see my children. Just heard friends say they would stay with the kids. Then I’m watching the house--all I hold dear in the world, really--disappear through the back window of the ambulance as it pulls out of the driveway. I realized I might be facing the end of all I was and would be in this world. You never know how you'll react to that until you encounter such a situation--that's where the rubber meets the road. You're faced with the fact that this could very well be the end of your life as you know it. Either you're ok with that, or you're not. I said, “God, I'm yours. Either take me or use me. You're God; I'm not. I'm simply yours.” At that point God becomes very, very real to you!