Wednesday, December 7, 2022
- Reflection by Susan Rohan
The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Last night my 15 year old daughter wanted to drive the car to take her friend home. While there she was distracted with the pretty Christmas lights (I am getting her to call them advent lights as we are in the advent season and not the Christmas season.) She looked behind her and all around her and when backing up CRUNCH! She hit a parked car. Thankfully I was there, she was in a good and healthy condition, and she had been doing everything else correctly. She was in a safe place. She thought she hit a garbage can. I had her stop. I got out and looked. It was, in fact, a car. I had her pull-over. I was calm. I had to be. She was a wreck. She had never been in an accident before, with anyone before. She was crying and struggling. I had to leave her in the car while I knocked on the door of the neighbor's door so that I could start the process of figuring out whose car it was that she hit. Thankfully I knew the neighbors and they were kind people. She was mortified because she knew the kids there and they were some of the popular kids in the school and the dad is one of the school counselors at the high school. She would not get out of the car.
After finding out it was not their vehicle but someone who was visiting them, I got back into the car with her and called the police to make the report. She cried harder. I then called the insurance company to let them know. She sobbed, and I gave her some Kleenex. She said she called her friend who had helped her remember that she was ok and that it had happened to her as well. The police came and I chatted with the neighbors and the owner of the car. I realized that she was one of the life-guards at the pool when Michael (my son) had his life taking accident in 2012. She is now a doctor at an ER in Dallas, TX. I was now in a bad state inside. She went over to my daughter in the car and got her out. Gave her a hug. Lily came over to us and began engaging with the group. It was beautiful. I will never forget her. I haven’t forgotten her. I cried all the way home. I cried myself to sleep last night.
Today, God has given me peace. Yesterday, God gave me strength. All of what God has given me is powerful. My story is powerful. Without God, I would not be here today.
Peaceful and merciful Father~
Thank you for loving us and breathing strength and peace into our lives at the least expectant times in our lives.
Amen