I realize that everyday, as I drive to do ordinary things, I tend to focus on the possibility of not being around tomorrow, or the next day... Of being in a car crash and not being around for my husband or kids. I try to stop worrying about the dumb stuff. I try to pay closer attention the road and to being happy with my kids. I would not want to die in a state of being frazzled and frenzied... to die because I was rushing. No where in the world is important enough for me to rush through a yellow light. For me to cut off the guy in line. For me to get road rage. Nothing is worth it.
If I'm late for a VERY important playgroup, or the grocery store or the doctor's office... yeah. Life will go on. And in all honesty, is there anywhere that ANYone has to EVER be that is important enough that it risks my life, my children's lives and the lives of everyone else on the road?
No. Nothing and no one is that important. So please, slow down. Please stop at the lights. Don't get mad at someone who made an honest mistake (or not so honest). It's not worth it.
It's NOT.
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Edited to add, in response to Jen's comment: No, nothing has happened recently, persay. All is well, thanks. I just reflect on tragedies that happen all the time and try to keep things in perspective. This past fall, a mother from a group I belong to was with her mother and her 2 baby boys when they were in a fatal car crash. Her husband was left without any family at all. Things like that just make me shudder. How does a person recover from that? CAN a person recover from that? How do you live in your home? Work at your job? Drive the streets anymore? I would end up as a missionary, far, far away, were that to happen to me...
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8 comments:
Nicely said! And very true.
I am ALWAYS in a hurry. I am ALWAYS late. I have to catch myself sometimes driving WAY too fast and in WAY too much of a hurry. You are right. NOTHING is as important as the safety of my children. Even getting to church on time is not THAT important. Thanks for the reminder!
Such a great post and a reminder!
You are SO right on this one. That is something I always have to work on. I am usually good about leaving myself enough time to get to places w/out hurrying, but not to say I never do it! And getting mad at other drivers...GUILTY!! Definately something I work on daily. Thanks for posting about this, its good to keep it fresh in your mind.
We need to post this on billboards all over teh country.....well said. I am assuming you ad a bad experience recently, hope all is well...
That is a very powerful post. I too have those thoughts running thru my head and I hate being in a hurry. I live in a big city and there is alot of raod rage here. I hate hearing hwen people kill someone over something so stupid. That box I am giving as a prize IS cute! I really wish I could have one LOL. Anyhow you should enter! It will be fun!!!
I'm rarely late, but it doesn't esp. stress me out when I am (not usually anyway). I've become a much more conscious, laid back driver since I've had kids (and since Dear Hubby plastered the back of the minivan with those Christian fish - one for each of us! It's hard to cut someone off in traffic knowing there is literally a school of fish on my vehicle professing that we are Christians. It would seem hypocritical, you know?
This was a really post - very thought provoking (and I'm relieved that I'm not the only one who reflects on her mortality). My grad school advisor and her family were returning from church one Sunday when they were involved in an accident with a police car on a high speed chase. In an instant, she lost her husband and two daughters. She ended up leaving the university not very long after and we've lost touch.
thanks for your very sweet comment!!1
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