Grateful

Sometimes we see things or things happen to us that shake us to our core.   Generally these things are unexpected and usually unwelcome, but they can certainly teach us valuable lessons.

Earlier this week on my way to drop Carter off at the sitters and running a couple of minutes late, I came upon a wreck.  I was the first one on the scene behind a small pickup truck, which had just been hit in the passenger's side.  I was able to stop, and immediately called 911, but in that moment, my mind seemed to quit working.  I often wonder how I would react in an emergency situation, and I can tell you that once in that situation, the world just stops and you just go into some sort of different mode, where you can't think or comprehend what is going on.  The only thing I could think was "call 911."

Finally, I realized I needed to get out and see if everyone was ok, and so did a couple of the other drivers of cars that were also on the scene.  I realized, in fact, that everyone was not ok upon walking closer to the accident.  The driver of the small pickup was not responding, and there I stood with a handful of other bystanders, unable to do anything to help her.  No one could not get inside the vehicle because the door was stuck and the only thing that we could do was wait for paramedics to arrive.

It seemed like ages before paramedics arrived and even longer before they were able to access the woman inside of the vehicle.  I thought when they arrived that they would be able to help her and to make it all better, but sadly, she didn't make it.

I have never felt so helpless or seen something so tragic in my life.  After a bit of waiting and watching the paramedics work, it hit me.  Had I been seconds earlier, I would have been involved in this accident.  Me, my unborn daughter and my 2 year old daughter, who sat patiently in the van watching Frozen while the whole scene unfolded, could have all been gone or seriously injured.  It was only a matter of seconds that changed that outcome.

I know that God was riding with me this morning on the way to work and I am thankful.  But, I pray that God was riding with the lady as well.  I am so incredibly sorry that she didn't make it, but I pray that she knew God and had peace in her life.  I wish that I could have done something to help her, but in that moment, I know neither myself or anyone else there was in control.  

I know this is such a depressing post, and I am normally a pretty up beat person, but I wanted to share this as a reminder that we are not promised tomorrow or the minute in front of us.  I know it is so easy to get so bogged down in life and to not realize how lucky we are to have each day and moment of time with our family and our friends.  I hope that I never ever have to be a witness to anything like that again, but I also want to remember that feeling of the earth standing still.  There is nothing like realizing how quickly your world can change to snap you back into reality.  So...let's just try to remember how precious every single moment is here and at any moment it could be our time to go.  Every new day that we are here truly is a blessing and I know I need to remember that...