Inspiration & Encouragement

"I have wasted too much time in life doing stupid & trivial things, I want this to be a life changing event for the better."
Brian Keeter, 01.09.09, day #2 in Rehabilitation

(Well, that & request to his mom for Cheerwine--seriously.)

If we didn't believe already that Brian was chosen to be spared by & for the Glory of God:
the progress he's making, the ways he's already blessing others, & how others are blessing him & his family are all proof that we know we serve a kind & loving God!

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose, Romans 8:28.

Brian's physical strength: The rehab doctors already acknowledge he comes into this process with strong upper body strength & were quite impressed, for example, with how well he did today doing weighted arm exercises (pull downs of 25 lbs. with each arm) from his chair. Remember, this is after almost three weeks in bed, with too many bones broken in his back & chest to count, & a titanium rod in his spine, just to name a few battle wounds.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to [those who have] no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [their] strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint, Isaiah 40:28-40:31.

Brian's mental strength: Though he still comes in & out of the fog often, he's more & more lucid everyday. Not only, but he's having some very reflective responses when dealing with the specifics of his adjusting to the loss of his legs. His first comments are often thoughts of concern for some of his family & friends--implying worry about how their lives will be impacted with his disability or just a general concern for their well being too.


For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power & of love & of a sound mind 2Timothy 1:7.

His dad broke the news about the paralysis when Brian asked him quite directly the day before he moved into rehab, "What's the plan?" while motioning towards his legs.

His dad explained what he knew:
Through the kindness of God, his life had been spared. There would be & already was good from this. He assured Brian he would be as strong as ever in his upper body & a quality life awaited him.
He then told him what he didn't know:
We don't know to what extent you legs will work again. But we do believe that your legs will improve over time from what they are now. No one can predict to what extent.
He then explained his bottom line:
Just trust in God & work hard.

(My dad so missed his calling as a football coach...says his son-in-law, my husband.)

My dad also requested I re-post visiting hours:
M-F 4-9
Sat-Sun 12-9

Brian had some visitors stop by yesterday evening & today. The visitor I told you all about the other day, the one God pressed upon me to call (Yes, I know it sounds freaky but once you really listen to the Holy Spirit, there are a lot of things you feel led to do & not do, though I always seem to stupidly do the ones even when told not to do them too.) that I found online, stopped by to see my brother today.

Byron, it turns out, works for Joni & Friends in Charlotte. I won't go into too much detail, you should check them out, but it was started by Joni Tada, who was made a quadriplegic in a car accident over 40 years ago. They are dedicated to "communicating the Gospel & equipping Christ-honoring churches worldwide to evangelize & discipline people affected by disabilities." Byron brought a lot of materials for Brian to help him adjust, shared his own personal story of overcoming adversity & defying the odds to have more use of his body than originally diagnosed, & plans to go back & visit again.

More people making the drive from Raleigh & the surrounding area also came by. I know a few others, including his sister Leah, have headed down there this weekend also. Many thanks to all of you for your continued support!

For those of you unable to visit, you may send cards to the following address:
Brian Keeter, patient
Carolinas Rehabilitation
1100 Blythe Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28203

My dad also investigated the internet connectivity issue & learned that sometime next week Brian should have access to email (they'll set up his laptop in his room) & his cell phone. Just don't expect to text with him as liberally as you may have before--he's got a lot of work to do!

Though he's only starting to grasp what lies ahead & I know this next year will be filled with innumerable ups & downs, I have to share some more of my personal testimony. God has been so faithful in answering our prayers to give Brian strength, peace, comfort, & hope. I know the Holy Spirit is moving in Brian's life & I hope you all will see this, & seek Him too. It's all you have to do to start.


But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find [Him] if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 4:29.

God has so freely offered Brian two very special gifts. Without a doubt, it is by God's mercy that Brian's life was spared. His life was spared to allow him to be saved by receiving God's grace through his son Jesus Christ.

Finally, I came across this scripture as I read the Bible last week before going to sleep. It spoke to me so deeply for Brian's situation & to hear his outlook today, (I know there will be ups & downs, who doesn't have them in life even without a life changing event such as this one? Though conquering those by our faith in God are what it's all about.), it's just another confirmation that God is at work in his life & in all of our lives as they cross paths in concern for him right now:


For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come, 1 Timothy 4:8.

I know! There is something in the Bible about everything--who knew!?!

Don't get me wrong, Brian will have to work hard to get the quality life we know he can. However, just as God brought him even this opportunity, God will provide Brian all things he needs to get through this process & to this new life.