Testimony of Healing November 6, 2000 Issue

Child healed after sledding injury

Leslee Godfrey Allen with contributions from Julia Allen

Our daughters and their friends were sledding one winter. Julie, our youngest daughter, seemed unusually "dare-devilish" this particular day. She and dozens of other children were sliding down the hill on snow saucers. She decided that she was ready to take on the highest part of the hill. So she climbed up, and began to slide faster and faster. A little boy was climbing up the hill in her pathway, but she didn't see him, and they collided. Both of them were in pain from the collision. To make matters worse, the father of the boy immediately ran up the hill and began cursing at Julie, threatening her, and telling her how stupid she was to do such a thing. Another mom saw what had happened and ran up to help. The father began yelling at her also. She explained in a calm voice that she was very sorry about the accident, but that she needed to comfort the child and help her down the mountain.

As I reached her, Julie kept saying, "I hate that man." Although there seemed to be a rather alarming injury to her back, it was obvious that the first thing to be dealt with was her strong emotions. We realized that this man had reacted that way because of his love for his own child. What we all needed to do, however, was to express genuine compassion and love for everyone involved.

Julie's dad carried her to our condominium, since she was unable to move without a great deal of pain. Because he was so concerned, he called a surgeon to get advice on the condition of her back.

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