A testimony of the sustaining grace of God through tragedy.
By Dale Bain
No, this is not the story about the beautiful country of Western Europe, but about a family in LA – lower Alabama. Donald (Don) and Carolyn Denmark tied the knot some 57 years ago. Little did they know how their life would play out. Surprisingly there was a call on Don’s life to preach. Carolyn, at first, did not like Pentecostals; however, now “she are one.” And undoubtedly, neither realized that they would birth, and raise10 beautiful children (7 gorgeous girls, and 3 handsome sons). Oh yeah, they accomplished this while pastoring small Pentecostal churches in Alabama and Mississippi over the next 30 years. I know that Don worried about feeding his family about as much as he agonized about feeding his church flock. Who knew that raising a family of 10 children would mean never going hungry!
Who would also think that just two days after celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary and attending and participating in the beautiful February 25, 2012, wedding ceremony of grandchild number #10, their lives would be forever changed? With Kay, their oldest daughter, Carolyn and Don were on their way to visit younger daughter, Cheryl, who had recently been ill, when their entire lives were forever adversely affected! They had just exited Interstate highway 65 near Cullman, Alabama when a horrendous automobile accident happened. An accident that would eventually take Donald’s life, leave Carolyn paralyzed from the neck down requiring 24-hour assistance, and cause serious injuries to Kay who was subjected to surgery and time in a wheel chair. Don succumbed to his life threating injuries and went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 18, 2012. Overwhelmed, Carolyn had to attend her life mate’s funeral lying in a hospital bed in another city miles away, viewing it over the electronically streamed service from their local church. Suffice to say that the entire Denmark families’ lives were turned upside down on that heartbreaking Monday.
While Don is now walking the Streets of Gold watching his beautiful family through brand-new eyes once blinded by the disease of Diabetes, Matriarch Carolyn is recovering and will return home 72 days later. Daughter Kay is recovering nicely and now walking on her own while she ponders about taking care of “Momma.” The entire Denmark family now realizes it was the grace of God that kept all the pillars of their family from being snatched away from them. Having visited them often in the hospitals, I would like to report that I have never witnessed such a strong and faithful Saint as Carolyn Denmark. Not once has she complained about her serious injuries, but always thinking and praying for her soul mate and family. She even relates the story about the visiting angel who appeared to her while in the hospital intensive care unit, never to be seen again. However, while there, “He” reinforced her faith in her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. To this day, she still misses and is saddened by the loss of her husband and soul mate, Preacher Don.
She has set a date to be back in her church, and especially her Sunday school class, on the second Sunday of May, 2012, which coincidentally is “Mother’s Day.” “Saint” Carolyn still has her beautiful family of 10 children, 29 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren to hold up in prayer and remind them that they will all meet Don one day in heaven. Please continue to pray for the Don Denmark family as they make progress in their healing process to once again be active pillars in their local Pentecostal church.