Memories That Stick With You

Last night I pulled into the parking lot of Barnes and Noble and was reminded of an event that could have changed my entire life.  It is funny how the event didn't occur but the fact that it almost did haunts me to this day.

Slade was a newborn and the two of us were out and about running some errands.  I was trying to get to the bookstore to pick up a copy of Nursing Mom, Working Mom and ironically my little guy was in the back seat belting out the most nerve wracking cries because he was hungry. There is something about a new mother and a crying baby that just creates nerves and rash thinking.  I was in a hurry to get into the bookstore parking lot so I could stop the car and nurse Slade.  In my haste I mistakenly pulled into the YMCA entrance.  Barnes and Noble was on the other side of the YMCA so I drove around the back thinking that would get me to the bookstore parking lot.  However, the 2 were seperated by what looked like a curb.  Being shaken up by the crying baby in the back seat I decided to jump the curb and quickly get to where I was going. 

All of a sudden a little voice in my head said stop, so I did.  I backed up left the YMCA parking lot and drove into the Barnes and Noble parking lot.  From that angle I noticed that there was a 3' grade difference between the two parking areas.  I almost got out of my car and threw up I was so shaken at what I had almost done. 

Last night, almost 4 years later, I was looking at that same grade difference in that same parking lot and had all of these old feeling rush into my soul; thanks for the voice in my head (God), thanks for my ability to listen to hear that voice and listen to it, fear of what could have happened and regret for what I almost did.  The feelings were so strong I wanted to go buy a can a paint and paint a sign on the YMCA curb that warned others of the grade change.  I looked in the rearview mirror at the two sleeping faces in the back seat and said a prayer thanking God for the blessings he has entrusted me with and thanked him for his watchful eye over my stewardship.