Did I ever want to be the cautionary tale you tell?
Not just no, but HELL NO.
But-
IF it saves the life of just one child…
I will gladly tell it over and over again. I will share it with you so you'll share it with others. I will stand in front of crowds and watch as videos of our story roll across a screen. I will endure uncomfortable questions and comply with requests to tell my story over and over again, even when I'm so emotionally exhausted I just want to die.
I'll find a way to make this new "dream" of mine, a dream I never wanted but have accepted, be that thing that every bereaved parent wants.
A purpose out of seemingly infinite pain.
because it could save the life of-
just. one. child.
We celebrated Thanksgiving a few weeks ago at Eva's school. Yup, you read that right. EVA GOES TO SCHOOL. Being the dorky and over attached former homeschooling hoverer that I am, I decided to take the invitation to attend the school Thanksgiving Day luncheon seriously and actually go. Well, aside from the parents serving, only one other mama decided to embarrass her kid and pop in. And she just happened to be a friend from "before." A sweet mama who graced my life in overlapping social circles. Ones that usually involved funny mom's nights with my ridiculously entertaining pal, Misty. We'd seen each other in passing and chatted for a few minutes here and there during school events in the last few months. She'd gracefully reminded me of how we met and shared some laughter when I couldn't recall. (Happens way too much now. Grief brain is real, I promise.)
I know she was nervous as she shared that she had spent some time waiting for the right moment to tell me how my story had hit home in her life. Today was that moment.
And I am so glad she did. Beyond glad. GRATEFUL. SO VERY GRATEFUL.
After she shared how much and how often she prayed for our family, she looked me right in the eyes and said-"I don't know if I should say this or if it's the right thing to tell you, but I tell your story. I use it as a cautionary tale."
Her honesty just about took my breath away, but so did her willingness to be transparent and truthful.
The Holy Spirit convicted me through her again that day-
As much as it makes people uncomfortable to even imagine what it's like to walk in the shoes of a family who lost TWO sweet babies in one single day, it's not my job to make you comfortable. It's my job to be a mama to all 5 of the precious children The Lord blessed me with. And part of that job is honoring the 2 who left all too soon. To let their deaths change nothing would shatter my heart beyond what I could bear. The other part is raising my surviving 3 to be convicted in what it means to own your choices, own your history and to not even consider allowing the enemy to steal the life God has planned for them.
So I WILL share my story. YOU share my story.
Don't assume it won't happen to you or your kids just because they've grown up around ATV's/UTV's or dirt bikes. Don't assume it won't happen to them because it didn't happen to you when you were a kid. News flash, Sherlock. Those vehicles didn't exist when you were kids and the ones that did sure as hell didn't go 60 miles an hour.
LEARN from what happened to Mercy and Sam.
Use safety gear.
Take safety classes.
Wear the seatbelts!
Don't let an unlicensed driver operate one.
Follow the rules.
And YES, I understand that all those rules are not super fun, but neither is dealing with dead kids and the shitshow it leaves behind.
Accidents happen and people get hurt. I get it, I really do.
But.
You wouldn't throw your baby in the pool without teaching her how to swim right?
And you'd teach your kid to drive before taking them to get a license and operate a car?
And you'd make sure they lock all the doors when you leave them at home and know how to dial 911?
Enough said.
Share. our. story. and ALL the stories you know that might save a life. Trust me, it'll be worth the words, and the breath, and the time.
Thanks, Kelli. My heart needed that.
love,
clan mac mama
#Stand4SaMercy
#TheSaMercyFund
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