Back to Reality

A couple weeks ago, things were abruptly put into perspective for me.  WARNING:  This will be a pretty somber post.  Stop reading if you are looking for something funny.

The first week of school is always CRAZY.  This year, things got busy right after I got back from our National Sales Meeting and I felt like I was working non-stop earlier than normal.  I had no idea how crazy it would get.  The Friday before classes started at Baylor, I found out that a custom book we had done for them was the wrong edition.  This was a huge deal.  It was so bad.  I was busy dealing with that and trying to make it to a training at BU in the morning and then heading to Temple for another training when my sister kept calling me.  I couldn't answer because I was with customers and then some other things came up so it was a couple hours later before I called her back.  What she had to say snapped me back to reality quicker than I could imagine....

One of her friends from high school, Maggie Moreau Meers, had been driving her little girl Avery, 6, to her friend's house which was about a mile away.  She also had her 3-year old son, Callan, in the car with her.  Apparently, she hit something in the road that caused her to lose control of the Tahoe she was driving and when she overcorrected, the car flipped and then hit a tree.  All three of them were ejected from the car.  Maggie was able to call 911 and the friend whose house they were on their way to.  All three were alive when the first responders arrived but little Callan didn't make it.  He passed away before the ambulance could get him to the hospital.  Avery escaped with a broken collar bone and Maggie suffered several broken bones and almost had to have surgery.  She found out about her baby boy when they realized she wouldn't have to have surgery.  Can you imagine?  You're taking your kids to play at a friend's house and then all of a sudden your life is turned completely upside down.  It makes my heart hurt to just think about it.  Avery and Callan were absolutely everything to Maggie. She was a wonderful mom and you can see the happiness in their faces on her Facebook page's pictures. 

As you can imagine, I immediately dropped what I was doing and went to pick up Robert Alan.  I just needed him in my arms.  My mom and Brittney headed to Abilene to be with Maggie, her husband, Bryan, and the rest of their families. 

Maggie and the family have been so strong.  I cannot imagine the heartbreak and the loss.  Apparently, her husband has been very understanding and they are strong in their faith, so they are calling on the Lord to help them through this.  If you're interested, you can see Callan's obituary and information on where to contribute here. 

The Meers family will be living with Maggie's parents for awhile until they have time to process what has happened and are ready to go back to the house where they all used to live.  Can you imagine?  I'd never be able to walk back into his room again.  It's such a sobering event that reminds you how quickly everything can be taken away.  I think my mom may have explained how to deal with it best.  She said, "When this happened to a lady I knew when you were about 2 years old, I just realized that you ultimately aren't mine, you are God's.  I am just here to take care of you for Him and to do the best I can.  When God is ready, you'll go back to be with Him."  There's not much comfort in this, but it helped me to realize that Callan is definitely in a happier place.  He'll get to experience life in Heaven!

My prayer to the Meers-Moreau family:

Dear Lord,

Please wrap your loving arms around the Meers family.  Please be with Avery as she struggles to heal from her wounds and learns to live life without her little brother.  Please help her to remember all the good times they had in the few years they were together.  May she always have fond memories of her brother and may she live a long, happy life and bring joy to him.

God please be with Maggie and she struggles through this situation.  Please heal her neck, her back, her legs and all her physical wounds.  Please do not allow the enemy to allow her to place any sort of blame on herself.  It could have happened to anyone.  God please help her to see the sunshine each day at some point during the day.  Please allow her to enjoy Avery's smile and continue to be a good mom to her daughter.  Please let her allow Bryan to love her through this.  Please wrap Maggie in her arms and let her feel Your warmth and love, peace and sovereignty. 

Lord God please be with Bryan as he tries to lead his family through this tragedy.  Thank you, God, for his strength and his love for Maggie, Avery, and Callan.  I pray that You will help him through this and give him the words and the actions to help Maggie and Avery through this.  Lord please help them to take the time to mourn.  To grieve.  To cry.  To hurt.  Please then allow them to see that there is tomorrow.  Please give them something to look forward to.  I pray that You will be with Bryan and Maggie's marriage and that they will cling to each other and to You throughout this process.  I pray that whatever counselors they may talk to will have the right words at the right time.

God please heal this family.

In Your name I pray,

Amen.