One time around mid May, I had just dropped the kids off to school, and I needed to swing something by the dance studio. However, it was on a day that I had my niece, as well as Chaz with me. I didn't really want to get 2 kids out of the car, so even though I was already at the studio, I called one of the dance teachers and asked if I could just drive the items over to her house, so that I did not have to get 2 children out of the car (I was being just a tad bit lazy). Anyhow, the teacher stated that normally she would not care, except that she was just getting ready to walk out the door. Upon this finding, I determined that at this point, it really made a lot more sense for me to just run the items into the studio (especially since I was already there). So, I hauled 2 little ones out of the care seats, and took them in with me to drop off the items (which really wasn't too bad).
Afterwards, I was heading home, and my mind began reflecting on an accident that had happened just the day before. It was a tragic accident with a horrific outcome (2 teens had lost their lives). It was very close to my house, and I had spent some time on the previous day trying to figure out how such a bad accident had happened in such a place. As I was thinking about the accident once again, I decided that I would drive by to see the scene of the accident, and I passed the usual turn in to my neighborhood. However, immediately after, I contemplated on how terribly busy I was that day, and how spending the extra time to drive up there was really just a waste of my time, I decided to turn left at the next intersection, and head home.
Important disclaimer: All of this above information is important when considering the timing and the placement of what happened next.
So, I arrived to the intersection, and turned left. Immediately upon turning, I saw a mom walking down the side of the road without a sidewalk. She was walking through a thin layer of gravel while balancing a baby car seat carrier on her forearm, and carrying a plastic grocery bag on the other hand. Immediately upon seeing her, I felt an impression to offer a ride to her. However, almost as quickly, I justified why this would not be a good idea: I did not know her, I typically did not do such things for safety reasons, she was probably just quickly walking home from the store (since she was carrying a grocery bag), etc. However, just as quickly, I thought about how heavy that carrier must be (Being at the stage of life I am with Chaz, I was all too accustomed to carrying a car seat around on my forearm in such a manner, and knew they could become very heavy very quickly). I recalled a time several years ago, when I did stop to pick up a girl who informed me that she was late for her Uncle's funeral, but that her boyfriend and her had gotten into an argument, and that my stopping to give her a ride was an answer to her prayer. At about this time, I received a distinct strong impression that if I did not go back and get her, that I would regret it for the rest of my life.
As soon as this thought came to my mind, I could not turn my car around quickly enough. I turned into a circle to flip a U turn and go back. I was praying that I hadn't missed my chance, that I would be able to help this Mother get to wherever it was she was going. As I turned back on the main road, I saw this Mother trudging along with her heavy car seat, and her grocery bag. I pulled over on the other side of the road (as this was the only place to pull over), and rolled down the window closest to her. I called out to her: "Would you like a ride somewhere?". Somewhat to my surprise, she quickly said "Yes, if you are sure it's O.K." and started walking across the street.
At first, she just placed her carrier in my car. If you know the type A car safety, worry wart side of me, I had thoughts of the previous days accident on my mind. I couldn't help myself, and I came over to the baby's side to strap her in (hope that wasn't offensive to her sweet mom). As I walked over, this beautiful little African American baby starred at me with deep brown eyes nearly the size of golf balls. She seemed somewhat frightened that this stranger was buckling her in to her car. If any of you also know my obsession with someday wanting a beautiful African American baby of my own, I could have taken her home right then, and introduced my children to their new sister. ;)
After the baby was buckled in, I asked the mom where I could take her, and she pointed to the nearest main intersection, and told me to turn left. Her story quickly unraveled, and I became so humbled as I listened to her story. She explained to me that she had just recently moved here from Indiana. Her husband had lost his job, and they moved to Utah to be with her Mother and to try to find work for her husband. However, right after she had moved her, her husband's depression had taken a turn for the worst, and he had made a decision to end his own life. The mother told me that she could not bear to go back to the house where this had happened. She said that because of this tragic event, her 4 older children were staying with her Mother in Rose Park, and that she and the baby were staying with friends in West Valley. She stated that she needed a ride downtown to square away some money issues. She was staying with a friend that could not take her, but knew another friend that lived nearby, and said she could provide a ride for her. Not wanting to inconvenience her other friend too much, she had decided to walk from one friend's house to the other, yet realizing about half way in to the walk, how far away from one another the friend's houses actually were.
I finished driving her about a mile or so down the street. I gave her my cell number, and told her to call if she needed anything else. I never heard from her, but she seemed grateful for the ride, and her and her baby were on their way.
I was so thankful that I was able to help her. Especially after learning about her whole story. There is a quote floating around Facebook right now that states: "The world only sees the decisions that I make. Yet, they do not see the options I had to choose from".
I marveled at what I had envisioned of this lady's situation, yet the reality of the situation when I actually learned her story.
Back in December, I was thankful for a stranger that had helped me in THIS POST I know often times the only way we can fully thank someone for what they have done for us is to "Pay It Forward". I felt like I received the opportunity to Pay It Forward on this particular day, and for this opportunity, I was very thankful.
I have reflected upon what the extent of that regret would have been had I not turned around that day to help. Would I have seen a news story about this mom and baby maybe getting hit by a car, and I would have recognized them as the ones I hadn't taken time to help? Would the spiritual lessons I learned from this experience been withheld from me? Would I be forfeiting myself or my family blessings because I would have chosen not to help? Was this husband looking down on his wife's situation, and pleading with a stranger to literally lighten her load on this day? Could all of these scenarios be reality? Answers to these questions, I will probably never know in this life. But, I do know that I am thankful for the whisperings of the spirit that encourage us to see one another through this earthly journey that can sometimes be painfully difficult. I am thankful to have been my Brother's (or Sister's) keeper on this particular day. I am also thankful for the lessons I learned, and for the humility delivered with this beautiful experience.
