Thursday, February 26, 2009

In A Matter Of Seconds....

....Life can change. Are you ready for it?
This is what I have been pondering today.
Something interesting, and strange happened yesterday. Yes, it has something to do with the following pictures, but not entirely.
First, to explain where my head was, I have to say I have been doing alot of thinking and praying for my family lately. Memories of my Brother's accident a few years ago have been on my mind, and I have just felt like something was going to happen, and we needed to be ready for it.
Cory called me around lunch yesterday, asking if I knew where Dad was working. I didn't. But he was insistent, and I asked why? He then told me there was a page for a rollover accident on Southbound I-15 for a White Ford Ranger.
(Stomach drops)
(Memories come back)
(Heart races)
I call Mom to find out..... and he left earlier in the Day for work. Can't be him. Whew!

Skip ahead 3.5 hours and you get THIS.

A 17 year old girl pulled out right in front of him in Roy on his way home. Right in front of him is a girl, looking at him coming at her in a truck, and he knows it's going to hurt her, but has nowhere else to go. His truck hits her broad side at her door. She was knocked unconscious, and Dad was afraid she was dead. She was pinned between her door and the console of her camaro. So far, Dad is fine, just a sore shoulder from the seat belt. The girl had some internal bleeding, ruptured spleen, and a broken pelvis. (we found this out after Dad called the hospital and spoke with her Dad)

So today I am thinking about our choices.

We have heard the statement: "It's My life", and yes, we were all given the gift of free agency.

We are free to make our own choices.

But our choices effect our friends, family, and loved ones.....

and perfect strangers.

Am I blaming or accusing this girl?

No, not at all.

Dad is lucky, this won't effect him much, physically he is fine, and he even is lucky enough to have another truck. (Which is much bigger and heavier, so we are grateful he wasn't driving it yesterday)

I am asking myself today, to pay more attention to how my choices affect those around me. Not just the obvious like my family and friends. But perfect strangers. (And I am not talking about the way I drive!)

So today I am asking this question..... Yes, our Father In Heaven is aware of us, and wants us to be happy. But is our life mapped out for us? Do we have a pre-determined destiny? If we have our agency, and are fee to make our own choices.... wouldn't it make sense that we need to remain close to our Heavenly Father, do what we can to stay close to the spirit so that we can make those little choices every day that will determine not only our futures, but those around us?

We are reminded of this many times. But for some reason when it hits closer to home, we pay more attention.

We NEED to be ready for it.

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

SO SCARY!! Glad your dad is ok!!

Nicole said...

Yikes! Very scarey and glad he is OK. Thanks for giving me some things to ponder and be greatful for!

Amy Jo said...

I am glad Chris is OK. Probably shook up for sure. Life can change in an instant. Thanks goodness it was not her time to go. That would have been so hard on your dad even though it was not his fault. The man who hit and killed my sister lives with something that completely wasn't his fault. Wrong place at the wrong time. When I took my Defense Driving class they talked about speedin and texting while driving. How do you apologize for just not paying attention to someone who you have hurt. Our decisions do effect others on so many levels. We did a family home evening on that a few weeks ago.

jen said...

I am sooooo glad your dad is OK!!

TiffaniS said...

Often I ask myself if someone I love never came home or was gone before I could see them again would I have regrets? I also wonder all the time how my actions throughout a day might have effected the people around me. I am so far from perfect, but asking myself those questions often, hopefully helps me try harder. We love your Dad so much. I was so glad to hear that he wasn't hurt. Give him a hug for me K?

All About Us said...

I am glad that he is ok. How scary!!

Erin Larsen said...

Thank heavens Uncle Chris is OK!!! I love your blogs they are inspiring

Our Newman 6 said...

So glad he is OK!! Katie, thanks for this blog today you are always trying to be a better person and helping others to better themselves. THANKS LOVE YA TONS!!