By Doris Schroeder
Sometimes life brings along unforeseen situations, doesn’t it? I had one happen about three weeks ago, and it made me realize some of life’s lessons.
Hubby and I had a busy morning. We bought a list of groceries for John’s sister in Buhler and brought them to her. It was early afternoon as we left her apartment at the Buhler Home. We stopped at the bank in Hutch and then drove to the Chicken place for a quick lunch. The whole week had been quite busy and I was feeling a little flustered, something I usually try not to do.
After we finished eating, John told me he would be just a minute and he left the table. I had asked for the car keys and decided I would go to the car to wait for him. As I went out the door of the restaurant, I noticed a chord running through the door. I was thinking about it in my mind as I stepped off the sidewalk to the driveway. At any rate, I did not have my mind on where I was going.
Suddenly I was on the driveway, my body skimming over the rough pavement and burning the skin. Immediately I inwardly scolded myself for being so careless. I looked around and felt my hip and the side of my knee. They were burning but didn’t seem to be broken. I tried to get up but couldn’t seem to make it.
I just sat there, hoping someone would come along and help me up so I could get to the car. I was thankful there were no cars turning into the parking lot. “But how could I manage to get up?” I wondered. I sent a quick SOS upward and waited.
Soon a young mother pushing a stroller came by and seeing my dilemma tried to help me up but we couldn‘t do it. “I’m going to get someone to help me!” she told me and hurried into the restaurant.
A young man, evidently the manager, came hurrying out as well as two other men, As they came to where I was, a car drove into the lot and another person jumped out. It didn’t take long for them to pull me up and I made sure nothing was broken. The manager was very nice and said he would feel better if I came in and made sure I was all right. John came out just then and wondered what was going on.
I told everyone I was all right and nothing was broken. We would go home and take care of it. As we drove home, I inwardly thanked God for sending help when I needed it and to forgive me for my carelessness.
When we arrived at home, hubby helped me put some salve on my scrapes. It was strange but I had this strange compulsion to cry for a minute until I could compose myself and then I was all right.
So what did I learn from all of this? For one thing I didn’t need to let the business of the day take away my common sense. After all, I do have a God who is with me in every situation and will help me get everything done…if I ask him to. I can remember to do this if I keep depending on a God who is all powerful, knowing and present. I don’t need to get flustered.
The next morning we were in charge of a program by the group at our Young at Heart Ministries and we made it through fine. Because of the fall, however, I was even more conscious of the one who is really in charge of my life and what happens and I no longer had a flustered feeling.
A couple weeks later, we were buying a few things at Aldies. I had gone in to
pick them up and John, being really tired, was resting in the car. Suddenly I noticed he had come in the store and had noticed a fire truck and an ambulance enter the front and had worried I had fallen again (God forbid!) I saw the lady that had fallen toward the front as they helped her up. She had a dazed look on her face but hadn’t seemed to break anything. The attendants had her sit down on the gurney as they took her blood pressure. I think she was all right.
The lesson I learned from all of these happenings is this: don’t try to over do. You may think you still have all the energy you used to have, but use some common sense and wisdom… you don’t. We can still do some of the things we used to do, but not all of them! A new saying for all us older ones. We are not as young as we used to be! We should do what we can and leave the rest up to God! We know He can handle it in spite of the fact He is older than we are!
Doris welcomes your comments and can be reached at [email protected]
