He Walks
“When God piles up a hill of mercies, He himself shines behind them, and He casts on our spirits the shadow of mercy. Prayer is thus connected with the blessings to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but we do not realize their preciousness until we have sought them earnestly.”
-Spurgeon
I read that passage a few days ago. Then today, I had a glimpse of the preciousness of mercies long asked for. I mentioned last week how Ian did really well in the standing machine at therapy. He stood again today, and on the third round, he really acted like he wanted to start walking. So Tom, his therapist, said that we had to let him go. And, in a sense, Ian started walking. He was lifting both of his legs and moving them forward. He was still supported by the lift, but he was initiating all of the movements in his legs. He was able to walk halfway across the room.
It was an incredible moment and was one of the biggest “steps” that I’ve ever seen in him. What an emotional experience! I can’t really even describe again what I was thinking while it was happening. It gave me a glimpse, for a moment, that maybe one day this will end and we will have him back. It was amazing to see him working so hard, and being so determined to walk. To think that he hadn’t moved his legs to walk in a year and a half. That must’ve felt so good for him!
I was in awe of how God is still answering our pleadings. We have been asking for more progress, more healing, more strength for Ian. God is giving him that.
It was a shocking reminder that Ian is still here. He must remember what it is like to walk and wants to do it again. We don’t deserve to have Ian still with us. We don’t deserve progress.
Thank you, each of you, who have been praying. Today we were able to witness the preciousness of prayers answered when we seek them earnestly.
Larissa
anonymous
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
Cheering and praising…through tears of joy!
Still Praying!
Mary Ann K.
Michelle
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
larissa,
THAT IS SO EXCITING!!! this encourages me to continue to pray for ian all the more fiercely.
Bernadine
February 23, 2008 at 3:07 am
Thank God for answered prayer.
Continuing in prayer for Ian’s healing and your continued strength.
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 3:36 am
!!
Awesome.
Thank you for giving us yet another glimpse of the ways in which our sovereign maker makes His sovereignty known. In His time..
Still praying w/ you,
J.
Sandy
February 23, 2008 at 3:52 am
Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 3:56 am
Oh…I am so, so very happy and thankful for that gift!!! Praying for many more such moments for Ian. Thank you for sharing what happened. Continuing to pray for Ian and for all of you….
Stephen Altrogge
February 23, 2008 at 12:10 pm
AWESOME!
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Rejoicing with you, and praying still more!
Lotinskys
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 1:46 pm
As I read your blog, I am overwhelmed with tears of joy for what our Lord is doing!!!! “Oh Lord, our Lord! How majestic is thy Name in all the earth!” Our Father so cares about every detail as well as everyone involved through Ian’s trial, even those you many have never even met. Please know Ian, you as well as the entire family are still being held before His throne of grace and celebrating every step of progress with you! Thank you for sharing your joy as well as your sorrows. Great is Thy faithfulness!
Heidi
February 23, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Yes, Yes, YES!!!! Praise the Lord!!!
thekimfamily
February 23, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Incredible!
Thank you Lord!
Ellen T
February 23, 2008 at 4:09 pm
What great news! Keep pouring Your strength into him Lord!
Praying for more.
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Oh Larissa that is so wonderful! Praise God!!!
love you
t
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Hallelujah! Christ is King!
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 9:01 pm
that’s so awesome! praise god!
~sarah kearney
anonymous
February 23, 2008 at 9:12 pm
PRAISE THE LORD!!! for answered prayers – He is so good to us.
May God continue to give you glimpses of what is to come.
With continued prayers,
Rene from Latrobe
fry family
February 23, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I want to say more than awesome, but I can’t find the words
Kristin
February 24, 2008 at 2:51 am
wow – that’s wonderful! Still praying for Ian’s healing 🙂
anonymous
February 24, 2008 at 2:59 am
Thanks be to God!
We pray for Ian every day, but one early morning this past week I felt compelled to pray that He would give you all something that would cause your strength to be renewed. I’m sure many others have been asking for the same thing. How kind of Him to hear our prayers. This is indeed a precious mercy. Thanks for sharing:)
R. King
anonymous
February 24, 2008 at 1:46 pm
To Him be the glory!
lis
February 24, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Wonderful news! Precious indeed.
anonymous
February 24, 2008 at 2:48 pm
What wonderful news! Praise God, God is great, I love God. I just want to repeat a few phrases you mentioned in the passage that God worked behind the seen to make them happen: Ian determined to walk, Incredible Moment, Cannot describe what happened, Amazing to see Ian work so hard, awe of how God is still answering our pleadings. I really see in all these phrases and others that you have been posting a hill of mercies that God has piled upon you and God indeed shined behind them all. What beautiful news, thanks Larissa for making my day, I am sure my wife and my daughter will be very thrilled to hear this incredible miracle. Praise God, God is great, I love God.
Azad & Family
anonymous
February 24, 2008 at 6:03 pm
This month was worth going thru the darkest days in January for!
God hears your prayers and will answer when he feels Ian is ready!
YOUR FAITH IS AMAZING AND AN INSPIRATION TO ALL!
Go Ian! Go Larissaa! Go Murphy Family! and most of all GO GOD!
There will be quite times when you do not feel his prescence-that is when he working the most to heal Ian to bring him back to you in all his Glory!
Just know the Lord loves all of you and is also watching over those who care! Ian and those who love and care for him are all very Blessed! Never give up on the power of prayer!
Steph B.
February 24, 2008 at 10:42 pm
AWESOME!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!
Chris
February 25, 2008 at 3:28 am
That is great news!!
My friends and I prayed for Ian tonight at our prayer meeting. Great to hear this good news!
I will continue to pray for Ian!
Sarah
February 25, 2008 at 3:49 am
Tears come to my eyes as I see how immediately God is being glorified and praised, specifically through your post and the comments, for his kindness and grace to you.
It is awesome to behold God glorifying Himself through his power at work in your lives!
~Sarah Sensenig (Lancaster)
anonymous
February 25, 2008 at 5:57 am
I thank God and rejoice with you!
I am guessing that this walking took ENORMOUS effort on Ian’s part, which says something about how important this is to him. I think you will see more and more progress with his attitude like that!
I hope that some day when he recovers his speaking ability he will be able to communicate how much your help means to him during this time.
anonymous
February 25, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Larissa, even though I’ve never met you or the Murphy family, I have been praying for you all and particularly for Ian since I “stumbled” across the blog just after the accident. Your faith and unwavering trust in God’s sovereign care has been an inspiration to me–and I know to hundreds if not thousands of others as well. You may never know how many lives are being touched through you all!!!
I am thrilled beyond words to see this news. Praise the Lord, for He is so good.
Continuing to pray fervently on your behalf,
A sister in CA
anonymous
February 25, 2008 at 11:50 pm
AWESOME! I am so glad you were able to see him walk Larissa. God is indeed answering our prayers!