The Night That Changed Our Lives: The Devil Pushed Me in a Pit but God Pulled Me Out

By Kelly Garner

The Night That Changed Our Lives will take you into what many would consider to be a nightmarish few months. Kelly Garner shares his inspiration, encouragement, and how God has enriched his and his familys lives throughout this ordeal. God has provided him with a mission of being a leader and disciple, sharing what God has done in his life and what He too can do for others who will give themselves to the Lord. He will be an inspiration to all when they read about his struggles turning into a glorious outcome during his rigorous rehabilitation period that lasted for months.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512705683

Kelly Garner

Kelly Garner was born and raised in Florence, Alabama. He has called Birmingham home now for close to thirty years. He has resided mostly in the Birmingham, Alabama, suburb of Vestavia Hills. Kelly is married to a native of Vestavia Hills, Melissa, and they have two boys.

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Copyright © 2015 Kelly Garner.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Author Photo by Lee Walls

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0567-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0569-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0568-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015912154

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/31/2015

Contents

Foreword

Acknowlegemnets

Prologue

Nine Lives

Life’s Tragedies … God’s Mercy

Snowmageddon 2014

Snow Angels

Into the Pit

Saving Grace … and Social Media

Reflections

The Refiner’s Fire

New Beginnings

Pure Gold

Many, Many Thanks

Counting—and Being—the Blessings

Works Cited

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For he will command his angels concerning you

To guard you in all your ways …

"Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation."

—Psalm 91:11, 14–16 NIV

"I am convinced that it was the grace of God that sent His protection & mercies & angels for my brother Kelly while he spent 14-plus hours in the 8 degree cold, was severely injured, that he didn’t aspirate on the blood he was throwing up, that he didn’t go into a diabetic coma, that his spinal cord didn’t snap in two when one of his thoracic vertebrae completely obliterated leaving him paralyzed, and the hemorrhage in his brain has not killed him.

He’s not out of danger yet, so please continue to mention his name.

—Charlotte Garner Carter

Social media post, Snowmageddon 2014

Foreword

Snowpocalypse 2014, they called the day when Birmingham, Alabama received two inches of snow and ice that shut down the entire city. The steep, hilly roads in the suburbs to the south led to abandoned cars and people waiting it out with strangers. The most memorable events, though, were of kindnesses and sacrifices offered to others to help-stores let people sleep in their building until loved ones could reach them, churches and schools kept kids all night until parents could reach them, and individuals risked life and limb to go out to help their neighbor. This is the story of one of those Samaritans.

Kelly Garner is a good man I didn’t know other than by name, until that day. Later, as he began to attend my church after the experience described in this story. I began to know a man whose survival story got the attention of all of us. He can tell that story better than I, but it was all over the news, and still people recognize him as hey, you’re that guy!

Kelly is more than that guy, though. He almost died that night, but in some ways, he began to truly come alive that night. For Kelly, it was an awakening to life, to gratitude, and to God in a bewildering and wonderful way. He and his family went through testing, distress and helplessness that few will ever know to put life back together after it was almost taken away. And he found a deeper faith in God.

As dramatic as the rescue was, the journey since then is more important. Kelly is on the journey of becoming, one that invites us to live a new life and see it with new eyes. Such journeys roll out for many years after, and for them, it is still ongoing as we stumble forward, fall back, recover and re-learn many things again, and some for the first time. This is a good story, of a good man and his family, a man who went out one night to help, and never came back. It is one that all of us might live if we have eyes to see. I’m glad I met Kelly. You will be, too.

Dr. Gary A. Furr

Pastor, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church

Birmingham, Alabama

I’ve often heard people ask, ‘Why does God let bad things happen to good people?’ Ever since January 28, 2014, Kelly Garner has been asked that question many times. On that fateful night, Kelly says that the Devil pushed him into a ditch and God pulled him out. This book is not just the story of Kelly’s recovery, but how a community came together to find him and how a city provided doctors and nurses to heal him. All of this is tied together by a belief that God can use any situation for good. Kelly’s dilemma provides many lessons for us, and it’s my hope that you will be encouraged to help others when you have the chance.

Life brings many challenges, but how we respond to them determines the kind of example we will set and the type of witness we will offer. Kelly responded to the challenges of that fateful day (and every day since) with a deep faith and a determination to make the best of whatever comes his way. His story is a powerful reflection of one man’s faith and willpower.

As I sit writing this, I am watching the news and a story comes on about Kelly Garner. Today is the one-year anniversary of Kelly being released from the hospital. So I am not surprised that the news is covering his story again, but I am amazed at what they are reporting. Kelly has just finished the half-marathon at the annual Mercedes Marathon in downtown Birmingham. His surgical team ran with him. One year since his release from the hospital—and he has just ran 13.1 miles. I am amazed—or maybe I shouldn’t be. What a miracle and what an inspiration.

—Jim Frazier, Minister to Boomers and Older Adults at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church.

Acknowlegemnets

This book would not have been possible without the love and support from my wife and two sons and from my sisters, brother and mother, my in-laws, and all the backing given from lots of individuals that are too numerous to name. They were there with their visits and phone calls checking on my status.

A special thanks for Maggie Keller and Jennifer Gerelds for helping me with the editing. They can tell you how grammatically incorrect I was many times. And to Dr. Gary Furr, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, who put in some time to give me tips on writing my story. Also, a thanks for the book design from friend Rollina Oglesbey. She spent countless hours on this project and did a magnificent job.

The metro Birmingham media was there and was responsible for sharing my story and my face for all to see and be on the lookout. I have enjoyed time spent with each of the media outlets

Reviews for The Night That Changed Our Lives

[pbreaux-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Received from the author himself at a book fair in alabama.Just when you think you have it bad, others have had it worst. A compelling story of triumph,determination and overcoming obstacles