It May Have a Looked Like Just Four Boys in A Car...But For Two Moms It Was Their Hearts in That Car
It started out as an ordinary Saturday. Two of my sisters were driving to Lowes for some mulch. My sixteen year old nephew recently got his license; and since they weren't going far and couldn't all fit in one car, my sister let him drive with his two younger brothers and my older sister's son in the car.
My sisters and my brother in law were in front of them, when they approached an intersection. A guy went through a red light and hit the car with the boys in it. My sisters saw it happen in the rear view mirror. I can't imagine the fear and panic they must have experienced. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. The boys were in the black car. 
As a Mom myself I try really hard not to worry every about every little thing. The world is a scary place and our job is to raise our children to go out in that world and succeed. In the process we have to let them go a little bit at time as they grow. That first day of kindergarten, when you are bursting with pride because your child is happy and excited with this new experience; and yet your heart is breaking because you can't just hold them in your arms and keep them safe. The first time they go on a field trip and ask you not to chaperone this time, so they don't always have to be in your group, and can actually just be themselves with their friends. You say OK, because you want them to have those life experiences. That day of the field trip is the longest day of your life, while you wait for them to be safe with you again. The first time they get behind the wheel of a car by themselves and you sit by the window waiting and watching, even though they just went two blocks to the library, but you know there are crazy people on the roads...
Here In Florida there has been a lot of controversy over whether or not red light cameras have been effective at reducing the amount of red light runners. According to this article, More than one million citations were issued for red-light camera violations statewide over one year, that's more than fifteen times the number of tickets issued by law enforcement to drivers running red lights. That's a lot of people running red lights. A lot of people risking their lives and the lives of other people. Like the guy who went through that red light today and rattled the world for those four boys and their parents and me, and my Mom and so many other people that love them. There's a saying that sums up being a parent: "being a parent is like walking around with your heart outside your body." That couldn't be more true.
So tonight I am am grateful to God that those four boys are OK. I am sorry my sisters had to go through that, but grateful that it wasn't anything worse. We hear stories every day, like that Fed Ex truck hitting the bus yesterday, or the four year old child killed at her day care, or the countless children killed by violence in schools. We can't live in a bubble, as much as we wish we could when it comes to keeping our kids safe. We need to remember to not be afraid to raise our children to go out into a world that can be a really scary place sometimes. All we can do is teach them well and trust in God, and in them that they will make good choices, and then just sit back while your heart walks around outside your body.
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