brittany hamilton
Confidence in God
Brittany Hamilton accepted Christ when she was seven years old, but she never dreamed she would need to lean on the Lord so severely in the early years of her faith.
On October 25, 1994, when Brittany was nine, she waited for her mother to pick her up from school. Kathleen Hamilton was always on time. Brittany waited and waited, knowing in her gut that something was terribly wrong. Her parents had driven out together that morning, looking for a good spot to hunt deer for an upcoming hunting trip. But they should have been back in time to pick her up. At 5:30, the secretary from Brittany’s church picked her up and took her to see her pastor.
“Your parents have been in a train accident, Brittany, and your mom went to be with the Lord.” Brittany remembers crying but not fully understanding. Pastor Frank then took her to the hospital where her dad was in a coma and not expected to live more than four or five days. Everyone who cared for Brittany was there to comfort her. But nothing seemed real. In just a matter of minutes, Brittany lost her loving mother and faced the reality that she might lose her dad as well.
Miraculously, Gary Hamilton survived. But Brittany soon learned that her father was paralyzed. No more playing outside with Dad. No more walks together. And because he had to endure many months of rehab, Brittany would have to wait to feel the warmth of her father’s hugs.
Brittany finally moved into the hospital quarters so she didn’t have to be separated from her dad anymore. She saw some of the difficult, painful medical procedures that her father had to undergo. The therapist often just pushed him out of his wheelchair to see how he coped. She hated how they treated him.
When she became discouraged, Gary reminded his daughter that some in the hospital were even worse off than he was. Some had no feeling at all and couldn’t ever hug their children again. He had the blessing of being able to use his limbs and hold Brittany on his lap. The bond between them grew through the struggles, and God knitted their hearts together for His purposes.
Gary felt Brittany needed some time away from the hospital. Her aunt and uncle had a ranch in Wyoming, and they invited her to come visit for the summer. They had horses and Brittany learned to ride. She fell in love with the sport and enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors. “I think God gave me horses so I would be less focused on the loss of my mother,” she says. “I could ride for hours looking over the vast canyon all around me. I just let the beauty minister to me, and I bonded with my horse. My horse listened to me cry, yell, and scream. I was angry, sad, and all those things you would expect. It’s amazing, but horses really do listen. Their ears flicker, letting you know they hear you. My horse was a much-needed companion.”
Today, Brittany is nineteen years old. She now has three horses and competes in local rodeo events. Trophies line her living-room shelves, attesting to her strong will and dedication. The proud owner of Snazzy, a grand champion, Brittany also has aspirations to compete for Miss Rodeo America.
Most of her events are on Sundays, but she is able to participate in Christian ministries for those on the rodeo circuit. “My dad has reminded me that even though it is difficult to miss church, I can still share my faith with others,” she says. “God has promised us that wherever two or three are gathered, there He is in our midst.” Brittany is involved with a program called Women Behind Cowboys, which encourages young girls to stay in the Word and to run the real race, which is for Christ.
Brittany also has completed a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program and is working at her local hospital. “I saw how some of the medical staff treated my dad, and I decided I want to spend my life caring for people.” Brittany plans to attend the University of Wyoming to further study nursing and equine nutrition.
Many of the whys of the accident are still puzzling. The engineer operating the train was not at the front of the train when the Hamiltons’ car was hit. He didn’t see them coming, and then it was too late to stop. Why did God allow man’s carelessness to have such a devastating outcome? What if the Hamiltons had come along just a few minutes earlier? God could have spared Brittany from loss and grief. Why would a loving God allow this to happen to a young girl?
With a humble disposition, Brittany admits that it has been very hard to accept everything, and she still struggles with the effects of the accident on her life.
“I still miss my mom. To me, she was an angel. I remember she was good to everyone she met. She always was upbeat, and I never wanted to leave her side. Yes, I would love to have my mom back, but I know I wouldn’t be who I am and who God has made me to be.
“I still struggle with why it had to happen, but I’ve learned God will never give me more than I can handle. I could have chosen to hate God and could be living apart from God’s best for me. But for some reason, God has blessed me and chosen to entrust me with the great responsibility of caring for my dad.”
Brittany admits that many of her friends have not understood the weight of her responsibilities. Her schedule does not look like that of a typical teenager because she has to run her home: wash laundry, cook, and clean. She makes it a priority to be home by 10:30 to tend to her dad’s medical needs. She has lost friends who get tired of Brittany’s demanding schedule. With conviction, Brittany has always told them, “Sorry, my dad is more important than bowling.”
Though the struggles continue, Brittany’s faith is strong and real. “The accident has given me the opportunity to find strength and confidence I would not have known otherwise. When my dad and I are out together at horse shows, we share our faith. People see the bond between us. And we know, without the Lord, we wouldn’t be here together.”
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
(Psalm 23:1-3)
WEEK TEN JOURNAL
• What areas of your life would you like to see changed?
• How can someone surrender difficult areas of her life to God?
• If you were to surrender completely to Him, how would you know that God will take care of you, no matter what happens?
• In your view, what is a costly sacrifice? Why would someone make a sacrifice like that?
• What Bible verse or passage of Scripture has been most meaningful to you this week? Why?