moms@work | devotional One unassuming Thursday in March my husband Jeff, our three-year-old daughter, Mia, and I took a leisurely stroll after dinner down to the video store. As we crossed a residential street, we saw a car coming towards us preparing to turn in the crosswalk we were walking in. We assumed the driver saw us and would stop, but by the time we realized she didn't seen us the car was too close for us to get out of the way. Noticing her window was down halfway I yelled out, "Stop"! The car struck me on my left knee and I was thrust a couple feet to the ground. Jeff was able to pull most of Mia's stroller back but the car swiped the side of it, and knocked Mia out. Thankfully the young driver had begun to brake before her car made contact with us. At first we were all so surprised at what had just taken place. It felt surreal and impossible and I kept thinking, "This can't be happening to us." Mia was absolutely hysterical and wouldn't be calmed by my husband. I wasn't able to get up off the ground and comfort her so I sat there in the middle of the road in excruciating pain wondering what had I broken. The young driver stepped out of the car and asked her if she was okay. She was visibly shaken by what she had done. A couple of good samaritan's stopped and called 911 for us. One of them helped me get over to the side of the road and offered his truck bed to sit on while we waited for the paramedics.. Because I was hardly able to walk and the extent of Mia's injuries were unknown, the firemen and paramedics advised us to go to the ER and get checked out. Much to Mia's dismay we climbed into the ambulance and headed down to Terra Linda. The paramedic who rode in the back with us entertained Mia by blowing up a latex glove and turning it into a chicken, she was mildly amused. We finally reached the emergency room after a very bumpy ride on the freeway. The nurse and doctor looked at Mia and she seemed to be fine, just a little scratch on her chin. I had X-rays taken of my lower back and it showed that nothing was broken, just a badly bruised tailbone. We are very aware that this could have been much worse and we're so grateful that we were all okay. We pass the intersection where the accident happened almost every day. Mia has taken to pointing it out as the place where the car hit us and we got hurt. I tell her it's the place where God protected us from being badly hurt. It's our memorial to God's protective hand and his grace! Everything God does ultimately brings Him glory. We are giving Him glory for sparing our lives and limbs and bringing us safely home. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Psalm 34:19 By Theresa O'Brien |