But today that almost changed forever.
I can hardly speak or write of it because I’m still so angry, but the anger is being replaced with the terrifying realization that I cannot protect my son from idiots.
My kid is that typical eldest male child mix of uber
responsibility and, well, teenage boy goofiness. But, he takes his safety very
seriously. He’s the oldest child of two oldest children. One, a prior cop, and
the other a minister. Safety and responsibility is pretty much part of our DNA
around here.
And today, because of someone else’s thoughtlessness and irresponsibility
we easily could have had the worst day of our lives. Well, mine and my husband’s,
and all who love us. Our son’s life, however, would be gone. As in he could’ve
died today. In an instant.
All because some random moron was driving and texting.
My son was crossing the crosswalk. Actually, first he looked
for cars and seeing none, he then crossed in the crosswalk. Safety first, after
all. He takes care not to be hit by a car. “Look both ways before you cross the
street” remembrances are flashing through my mind as I hold the hand of a very
eager four-year-old boy. He learned his lesson well and as far as I know
always, always, always does this.
But, today, that didn’t matter. No matter how careful he was
it didn’t keep him from being bumped in the crosswalk by a man in a car. A
death machine on wheels, basically. Because his phone was, clearly, more
important than my son’s beautiful life.
I will say, my son is fine. A little shaken up, but, he was
not hurt. My heart, though, it’s still not quite ‘fine.’
The man looked up just in time and screeched to a halt and
instead of plowing into my son, bumped him, as thousands of pounds of metal
stopped on a dime.
I am a minister. I have been with parents whose child has
died. There is no worse thing in this entire world.
Nothing compares to the shattering of one’s existence. I
have been witness to such events, helpless in the waves of grief, numbness, and
rage that pour forth from parents whose bright hopes for the future are
destroyed.
I have already had two children die through miscarriage.
That grief is hard enough to carry with me, woven as it is in the fabric of my
life.
But this. This would have been a monstrosity of grief.
We often use such words as ‘a tragic accident’ when
something horrific like this happens. Except, when will we loudly, and with clear
legal authority, claim that texting and driving is a choice? There is no
accident of picking up one’s phone to text ‘lol’ or some other such inane
remark. It’s a terrible, awful, selfish, soul crushing choice. On the same par
as drinking and driving, which as a society we generally condemn. And, we have
created ways to try and protect ourselves from people who behave with such
thoughtless regard for others.
Drunk driving is a crime. Punishable by fines, revoking of
driving privileges, and often some kind of jail time. But, texting and driving,
well, that’s a different thing entirely. Using our phone, whether it’s
texting or talking, is probably something we’ve all been guilty of at one time
or another. It takes one bad decision to change multiple lives forever. We all
(well those who were alive before the 90’s) are all old enough to remember
having to wait until we were not driving to talk to someone, or laugh at their
joke, or ask that question…it’s not a hardship to put the phone away while
driving.
Just now the first of two of Noah’s friends has arrived. To
celebrate the joy and freedom of summertime. They are having a hot dog & s’mores
bonfire in our backyard, sleeping outside in our tent, staying up way too late,
indulging in too much sugar, and making entirely too much noise.
Thanks be to God.
