When I was 15 I totaled my car. I had just dropped by boyfriend off at work (driving illegally, I might add), and was on my way back to school when I hit loose gravel. My first instinct was to immediately stomp on the breaks, which, of course, turned out to be a horrible idea. The car swerved off the road, hit a culvert, and flew through the air before finally coming to rest on its side.
I had been wearing my seat belt earlier but had removed it so I could rummage through the car to look for some Tylenol. I remember thinking that I should probably put it back on but, lest we forget how old I was... 15.
So, returning to the car situation we note that I was not wearing a seat belt, had lost control of the vehicle, and was flying through the air. Once the car hit the ground, on its side, I fell to the passenger seat and hit the window out with my head. And, yet, somehow, I managed to walk back to my boyfriend for help.
I learned two things in that accident:
1. Seat belts are not optional
2. It only takes a few seconds to lose control of a vehicle
I will never forget the fear that gripped me as I lost control of my car. Which is rather unfortunate because to this day, I am terrified of losing control while driving. Or, someone else losing control.
And when you combine that fear with my decreased vision I find myself almost paralyzed when trying to drive on roads that have snow on them.
So, you can only imagine how enjoyable this winter has been for me.
The other day I discovered a map on our local TV station's website that shows where the snow plows are. Some of them are even equipped with cameras so you can see just how crappy the roads really are.
I am so thankful that I didn't know about this map any earlier because it would have made winter that much worse.
I worry about the roads.
I worry about my family's safety on the roads.
I worry about...just about anything that I don't have control over.
Last night at worship team practice my concerns were put into perspective when a friend said,
"Your family is safer in God's hands than in yours"
My Aha Moment for the week.
I understand your anxiety so well! As a Christian we are taught to put our fears in God's hands but some days fear wins out in our minds. I love this section of the Bible - Matthew 6:25-34 - the last being "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." I find that when I read this before bed, it calms my racing thoughts about the future.
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