Hi, friends, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to Joni and Friends.
And I’ve got some special friends for you to meet. I’ve shared their story before – Andy and Linda Barrick and their children, Josh and Jennifer. The Barrick family had never known real tragedy until the night their van was struck head-on by a drunk driver. Every family member in that van sustained injuries, but 15 year old Jennifer’s severe head trauma was life-altering. Emerging from a five-week coma Jennifer had to relearn everything, beginning with walking and talking.
Joni: Linda, welcome and you too Jennifer! I’m so glad you could be here.
Linda and Jennifer: Thank you. It’s good to be here.
Joni: Linda, what was that like watching your child emerge out of that coma unable to recognize even a toothbrush or a shoe? What were your feelings?
Linda: Well, the doctors had warned us that Jen would probably be cursing and be very aggressive and angry so we were prepared for the worst. The most miraculous thing happened though. During this time as Jennifer was thrashing back and forth and had no control over her bodily movements, she just started praising the Lord out loud and praying to him for hours. The only time we could understand her, the only time her voice was clear was when she was praying and talking to God and all she did was praise Him. She would say, “Lord you are so good, you’re so faithful,” and she kept saying over and over again “Thank you for healing me and raising me up.” She couldn’t even sit up; she didn’t even know she was hurt. She was praying to Him in advance for what was going to happen.
Joni: Jennifer that was remarkable because again statistics would show that you should have been angry, but here you were quoting Scripture and even praise choruses. Am I right?
Jennifer: Yes.
Joni: What were the words to that?
Jennifer: Well the song was “Lord, You are Holy” and I sang that song the night of the car accident in the choir concert and the words to this song are just so powerful. They describe the different attributes of God and explain how He is wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous, victorious, conqueror, triumphant and mighty. You are my healer, my deliverer, shield and defense, strong power, and my best friend.
Joni: This makes me feel that when you were a young teenager before this tragic automobile accident that you must have spent a lot of time in God’s Word, is that right?
Jennifer: Yes!
Joni: Did you go to Awana?
Jennifer: Yes, I was in Awana for many years and I have always gone to a Christian school, so we would be required to memorize a Bible verse every week.
Joni: Linda, to me your daughter, Jennifer, so beautifully reflects that portion of Scripture from Matthew Chapter 12, right?
Linda: That verse in Matthew 12:34 says, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” and Jennifer had poured into her heart and her life Scripture from God’s Word. God’s Word is alive and powerful and so when she went through this tragic time and she was squeezed that is what came out of her. And it was unbelievable how somebody who was so injured and didn’t know who she was or where she was she knew all of those verses she had hidden in her heart. And you know Joni, when we go through a hard time the Holy Spirit can’t bring a verse to our mind that we have never read or that we have never memorized; and it’s so important that we are hiding God’s Word in our heart, and that as parents and mothers we are encouraging our children to hide God’s Word in their heart because we never know when they are going to need that to draw from.
Joni: And you have illustrated that so beautifully.
Friend listening, you need to learn more about Jennifer’s story and you can do that through Linda Barrick’s new book, “A Miracle for Jen.” And don’t forget to watch on-line our Joni and Friends TV episode “The Barrick Family.” Just visit our television page at joniandfriends.org. Thanks Linda and Jen for encouraging us today.
Linda and Jennifer: Thank you.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
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Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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