This weekend was filled with chaos in our household. We had Meagan's mother and brother and sister in town to spend the last weekend with Meagan before she left for Utah. I know this is an unconventional family but it maximizes the time for both parents and all the siblings get along really well and enjoy the trips.
Saturday evening we had gone to a dollar movie. Cheryl had to drive because there were too many people to fit into my small car. Scott had to attend a baptism so it was 2 moms and 8 kids. (ok, some aren't kids) After the dollar movie, Sarah asked if we could drop her off at the mall to meet up with some friends. Cheryl is not familiar with our area and it was a very dark and foggy night. I mean REALLY foggy. We dropped Sarah off in the Macy's parking lot and I asked Cheryl to wait until Sarah got into the building before we drove off. Even though she is 16, I am still a mom and like to make sure my child makes it into the door safely. We were in the lane so that Sarah would have to cross over our car in order to walk into the door. Cheryl asked her to walk in front of the car so that we could see her safely go into the building. Sarah quickly got out, followed our instructions and got safely into the building without incident. Cheryl, however sat paralyzed in the driver's seat as if she was never going to move. Not wanting to be a back seat driver, I just sat quietly and waited for her to drive away. Finally I decided to tell her to move, just as I opened my mouth a very small boy darted across the street right in front of her suburban! He was an African American boy, maybe only 4 from his size and he came out of NOWHERE! Both of us screamed. Cheryl's foot was planted firmly on the brake and the car never moved while he crossed the road.
After further study, we realized that the mother had crossed the road BEFORE Sarah and was waiting for her son inside the doorway. (What mother leaves a 4 year old alone in a dark parking lot on a foggy foggy night?
We immediately recognized the hand of the Lord in our live in that parking lot. So many tragedy's could have unfolded if Cheryl had moved the car and not sat paralyzed. She doesn't even know why she didn't move. She just sat there. The little boy was so little and our car so big, it most likely would have killed him or seriously injured him. He was being protected by "unseen hands". Protected even when his mother had disregarded her duties. However on deeper reflection, many were protected that day. Cheryl was protected from the horror she would have carried with her the rest of her life in hitting a little boy. (Even if the mother would have questionably been at fault.) Cheryl had a very hard holiday with many struggles from financial, to emotional to physical. This would have been literally too much for her to bare. Again, protected by "unseen hands" that held her foot firmly on the brake for no apparent reason.
On even deeper reflection, I have come to realize that my son was also protected. Mitchell was sitting in the front seat with us (her car has a 3rd seat with a belt and we were packed full with kids) Mitchell saw the entire event unfold. He could tell me the color of the little boy's shirt (red) when I couldn't remember anything but that he was African American. It was on the eve of his birthday. It would have been a terrible day for him to witness a little boy being hit. Mitchell is a very serious boy and no doubt would have been greatly emotionally effected by this event. I was protected as well. My mouth was closed when I wanted it to be open. All of the kids in the car were protected from witnessing a tragic event.
Today, I am grateful for "unseen hands". I am grateful that my Savior loves me, and wanted to ensure that our unconventional family unit continues it's good works for the good of our mutual daughter Meagan. I am beyond words of gratitude for the protection that we felt.
Wow..it is a mile-stone in her life. Her driver's licence!!! A million things rush through my mind at this moment...have I taught her enough? Is she ready? Will my Heavenly Father protect my little girl? As much as I would have liked to hold her back and make her stay a little child...there comes a moment when a parent must allow their child to use their wings. Sarah has prepared well. She has taken drivers education, she has driven and driven and driven to seminary. She is a level headed girl and I know I trust her. But do I trust the the other drivers on the road? Do I trust that she will be able to handle situations that come her way?
