I only knew Kim for a few short months. Although her parents had told me the horrendous story of her battle with Ovarian Cancer, this 14 year old girl, never showed her scars of war. Instead, she beamed from ear to ear with new life. Especially after coming through the doors of our church in early spring when she gave her heart to Jesus.
My daughter, Melissa and her quickly became very close. But just as quickly as Kim entered our lives, she was snatched away forever. It wasn't the cancer like most would have thought, due to the enormous tumor they removed nearly a year ago.
No, Kim had already went into remission from cancer. True, it was an absolute miracle of God. The doctors could not believe it, because only months earlier, this girl had been so frail they didn't expect her to make it. But she did, conquering every milestone in her path. Except for one...
It all happened the day she was hanging out with friends, just taking a simple walk in the springtime air, when suddenly out of nowhere a Drunk Driver crossed over both lanes, the ditch, and plowed through the yard where she was walking.
In an attempt to save her two friends (which she did), she pushed them out of the way, taking the full blunt of the accident. Kim always wanted to be a soldier in the Army--that day, she definitely took the front lines.
But it was all so senseless, a young girl, with her whole life before her, gone--gone forever.
People can survive just about anything in life--but being hit by a drunk driver isn't usually one of them. You see, it's not something they can prepare for or choose. NO, the only one who can make that decision, sadly, is the person whose senses are impaired and chooses to drink and drive.
In Honor of Kim Cook, her family, all the other victims of drunk driving, and National Drunk Driving Awareness Month, could you please do us all a favor and think before you drink? Or at the very least, could you think before you drive and endanger someone else's life? You may not feel the impact or the pain, because you're so drunk and numb at the time, but there is going to be a family, like Kim's, who will feel this pain and loss for the rest of their lives.
Kim Cook didn't have to die. So, let's not let her die in vain. Let's grant her the wish of being in the Army--and take action to stop others from driving drunk and end this senseless war. Drunk driving needs to stop, what are you doing to fight back?
Locally, we hope to offer free taxi service to anyone drinking so that don't have to drive drunk. But the best cure to prevent this all together is to not to drink at all. The Bible tells us "not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit". Why? Because God wants us to have the fun and good times without the hangover and the harm we could bring to ourselves and others.
So, this holiday season, make it your goal to honor God, Kim, and everyone--think before you drink! And try hugs instead of drugs. After all, Jesus is the real reason for the season and what better way to celebrate than spending time with him, his precious Word, and other Christians.
To read about some young girls who are making our roads a safer place, log onto to my website @ www.atime2heal.org and check out their amazing story by clicking on the "whats new" link.
God bless you and have a safe and happy holiday season! Merry Christmas!
