If it was Me…

The past few rides have been very relaxing. The weather was a bit cooler and I actually wore long sleeves on one ride which was a welcome change. I love when Fall starts to show hints it’s coming, although it’s not quite as cool as it should be yet.

There was a recent sad story in the news around here that probably many of you also heard about. A little 6 year old boy with autism was missing and several days later he was found in a creek. I’ve thought about that often since it happened, both when I’m riding and when I’m not.

It really hit me hard. I don’t know if it’s because I work with individuals who also have autism, or because I have small grandchildren now, or maybe because I too had boys. All I know is life isn’t fair sometimes and it made me hug my granddaughters a little bit tighter. No parent should have to bury their child, but unfortunately it happens. In this case we don’t yet have all the answers, maybe we never will. The fact remains that they will miss him every day of their lives, but at least he’s in a better place, in the arms of Jesus.

I’ve thought quite a bit on these last rides about how quickly people started to jump to their own conclusions about what happened before little Maddox was even found. Why do some people always think the worst in situations like this and why do they feel the need to share it with the world on social media and other venues? Does it help anyone really? No. Were they there? No. Have they ever had a child get away from them or have any experience with a child with autism? I bet the answer is no for most here as well.

I don’t know what happened myself, but I do know what it’s like to lose sight of your child and the panic that immediately sets in. On my first ride after they found this little boy, I couldn’t help but think back on the time I felt that panic.

My oldest son was about 2. A friend of mine and I had headed from where I live now to where we used to live. She was going to see friends and family and didn’t want to travel the 1,000 miles alone so my son and I went along and I went to visit my family as well. We stopped about halfway there so we could get a hotel for the night and let my son get out to run around and play after all of the day’s riding. He has always been a great traveler but at that young age he needed to get rid of some energy and we were tired of sitting too.

As we unloaded the car, he ran in and out of the room in nothing but a diaper and was quite happy. Being pregnant, I of course needed to use the rest room. I left the door open so he could still see me if needed and asked my friend to keep an eye on him. When I came out, I didnt see him. I asked her where he was and she didn’t know, she assumed he’d come to see me. Looking back, having no children of her own she didn’t realize how closely you must watch a child that age and also how quickly they can disappear. Panic and fear were immediate for me. We were just off the exit from a busy highway. He was in nothing but a diaper and at this point had no real fear of dangers. Granted it was over 20 years ago so the world wasn’t quite as crazy as it is now, but this momma was hormonal and in momma bear mode. Nobody better mess with my boy. After what seemed like an eternity but was only minutes, a man brought him around the corner to me. He had heard me calling for my son and led him to me. This motel had little hallways between every few rooms and apparently as I went down one, he went down another and I just missed him. My son in all honesty was having fun and probably saw it as a game but that was definitely not how I saw it. Once he was back in my arms my emotions were mixed. Part of me wanted to hold him tight and never let him go and part of me wanted to give him a serious scolding and a smack on the butt for taking off. I can tell you from that day forward, I never fully entrusted someone else to watch my children at that young age except a few people I knew would watch them like me. I was probably over protective in many instances but I figured better safe than sorry. I also made sure I reminded them often about not getting out of my sight and about strangers. It used to bother me occasionally when someone would tell me my sons were “momma’s boys ” but I got over it. I have 2 boys that may still be described that way from time to time but that’s ok, I’m proud of them and they’ve turned into fine young men. They both have wonderful young ladies that love them just the way they are. 😃

How many times have you been in situations and heard someone say, “If that was me I would have…”? The truth is until you are in any given situation you don’t truly know what you would do. Hypothetical situations are not the same as reality. We don’t know what we’ll do in most circumstances until we are face to face with reality.

We are often too quick to judge and too slow to just stop and think before we speak or write what pops in our minds. I’m guilty of it and I’m sure if you’re honest you can think of times when you were as well. It’s a part of who we are in this often much too negative and crazy world we live in. The media thrives on it and we fall victim to it.

This also reminded me of the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7. The Shepard left the sheep in the open field and went to look for the one that was lost. We need to look for and help those who are lost. Maybe they are physically lost or maybe they are spiritually lost. We are supposed to help others, not condemn or judge them. We need to lift each other up with our prayers and our support in whatever place they’re at. We need to meet people where they’re at and go alongside them to comfort them, to lead them, to physically, mentally, and spiritually feed them, and just to let them know they’re not alone. We don’t need to wait until there is a crisis like a missing boy to come together in our communities and help one another.

Be the light in this sometimes dark world.

Matthew 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

We must show works and faith.

James 2:26

“For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Its not just enough to believe, we must show our faith and belief through the things we do and say.

One of my favorite hymns is Amazing Grace-

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.”

God’s love, grace, and mercy never cease to amaze me. I cannot do it alone, I need Him every minute of every day.