I wasn't planning on my next blog post being about a stupid mistake I made, but hey, God doesn't follow my schedule.
This afternoon, my mom and I were driving home from Kennesaw, listening to Taylor Swift, talking about our upcoming vacation, and trying to ignore our hungry stomachs. On a road that neither of us had been on before, I made a hard left turn. Hearing something in my trunk fall over, I immediately pulled to the side of the road. As I jumped out of the driver's seat, I jogged back to my trunk, not even thinking about my car. As I went to open the hatchback, I saw the car start to roll backwards towards me. I got out of the way and ran towards the front door. Seeing my mom struggling with the gear shift and her seatbelt, I yelled for her to get out. Seconds later, the car gained momentum as my mom fell out the door and was drug on the pavement. It seemed as if the car was going to go straight backwards into perpendicular traffic. Then, God happened.
Suddenly, my car changed directions and began rolling towards a guard rail on the opposite side of the road. It crashed into the rail, crushing my bumper and flattening my back left tire. As I ran towards my car, I saw my mom stand up and run behind me. No one else was involved, and we were safe.
God was definitely with my mom and I this evening. Want proof? Here you go:
1. My car didn't run over me. God helped me to get out of the way in time to save my life.
2. My mom got out of the car. She later told me that her seatbelt was firm around her and her foot was stuck, causing her to struggle to get out of the car.
3. The car suddenly turned. Rather than increasing speed as it rolled backwards towards the highway, the wheels turned, crashing the car into the guard rails.
4. There were guard rails. My car was stopped by steel rather than a ditch.
5. My mom and I were never alone. From the men who saw the accident happen, to the family who brought us cold Cokes, changed my tire, and removed my car from the guard rail, someone was with us until my dad arrived.
6. One of the men who helped us reminded my mom and I of my grandfather. From his staggering walk to his backseat orders to his love of Coca Cola, the man had to have been our guardian angel sent to comfort us.
7. We are safe. I walked away with a scrape on my knee from kneeling on the pavement to look under my car. My mom, on the other hand, came away with a few scratches, bruises, and cuts from being drug. But still, we can't complain, because she said when she hit the pavement, her head was next to the wheel.
8. We drove my car home. Despite its caved in bumper, my Jeep runs beautifully.
Today marked my first car accident. Though it sounds odd, I believe God willed me to have this accident for so many reasons. It has increased my awareness of driving and what can happen if I don't give the wheel my full attention, it has made me thankful for the car I do have, and it has made me really take into account my faith. Who can stop a car from hitting my mom or me? Who can direct the car into a guard rail rather than into traffic or a ditch? Who could have sent each person who helped us tonight? God. Only God.
For the past few weeks I have tried to spend more time in God's Word. I have begun to read a devotion nightly that helps me delve into the Bible in an incredible way. Tonight, God showed Himself to me. He showed me that He is all powerful and all knowing. Like my Uncle Greg said tonight, God saved me and my mom for a certain reason. Though right now I am unsure as to what that reason is, I know and trust that one day God will show me.
Don't take one day for granted. Live each day to its whole, and praise God the entire step of the way.
I ask that you all please pray for my mom's healing as she from her minor injuries.
-Emily