Stories 2 min read
A Powerful Message of Gratitude – Garry’s Miracle
Garry was thrown ten metres into the air in a motorcycle accident and spent two and a half months in hospital. At his Seudat Hodaya, his message to all of us was simple: don’t take anything for granted.
Dear friends,
I want to share a story that touched all of us at the Israeli Center so deeply at yesterday evening’s Seudat Hodaya.
Our dear friend Garry was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident. He was riding his Harley-Davidson when a car hit him. People who witnessed the accident, and those who later saw the video, said it was unbelievable. Garry was thrown approximately ten metres into the air and came crashing down, landing on his head.
He suffered unimaginable injuries. He broke both legs and both arms, suffered serious internal injuries, and needed extensive medical treatment and stitches. At one point he lost consciousness and was so close to death that he felt he had already reached the next world — yet Hashem gave him another chance and brought him back.
Garry spent two and a half months in the hospital.
And then came one of the most powerful things he said. After everything he had been through, he simply said:
“Thank You, Hashem, for saving my life.”
Think about that.
For two and a half months, Garry couldn’t do something as basic as go to the bathroom on his own. When he finally could, he realised something we often take completely for granted: there is a blessing we say after going to the bathroom, Asher Yatzar.
Suddenly, something so ordinary became a miracle.
That is Garry’s message to all of us:
Don’t take anything for granted.
We wake up. We breathe. We walk. We eat. We go to the bathroom. We hug our children. We go to work. We get into our cars. We go about our day — and we forget how many miracles happen every single moment.
This is also such a powerful message as we approach Rosh Hashanah. Before we ask Hashem for anything, we need to stop and say: Thank You.
Thank You for the life You gave me.
Thank You for my health.
Thank You for my family.
Thank You for my children.
Thank You for everything I have.
And then we can ask.
We can ask Hashem for more health, more happiness, more children, more success, a home, a car, wealth and everything we need — not for ourselves alone, but so that we can serve Him better and do more good in this world.
Garry’s survival is a powerful reminder:
First, say THANK YOU. Then, ask.
May Hashem continue to give Garry a complete and speedy recovery, and may we all enter the new year with a heart full of hakarat hatov and gratitude.
Thank You, Hashem, for every single breath.
Shana Tova!