Whisperings of the Spirit

Miriam didn't get off the bus today. I was terrified. "Where is she? Is she hiding behind the sign at the end of the road? No, is she one of the kids I can't see very clearly? I can't remember what she was wearing. NO, that isn't her. WHERE IS SHE?!?!?" These are all thoughts I had in the brief moments it took me to get to the other children. Panic started setting in, my hands were shaking, but I managed to ask a boy in her class if she had been on the bus. He said, "Yes, she was on the bus, but she didn't sit by me. I don't know why she didn't get off." My panic started to subside a little, but I was still worried about Miriam. I figured she'd be in panic mode as soon as she realized she missed her stop. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket, scrolled through my contact list, and made a call to the school's transportation department. Within a few minutes I knew she was safe and I knew how I was going to bring her home. Relief, PURE relief.

My darling child is now home safe. We've had a nice chat about PAYING ATTENTION when you're riding the bus. Her friend was reading her library book and she was distracted. She didn't even realize she had missed her stop until the bus driver called her name. Thankfully she didn't start crying until they pulled into the bus depo. Everyone was very kind about the situation, but I think it scared Miriam enough, that this won't happen again.

You may be asking, what does this have to do with the title of this post. Well, let me explain. I had three different instances where I felt prompted to do something. It wasn't an earth shattering feeling, just a memory, or a thought, I didn't even think of it being from the Lord. It just felt like I remembered to do something. Looking back, I can see how the Lord directed my actions, and had I not listened, this situation could have been much, much worse.

Whispering #1: Today after I took Miriam to the bus stop, I remembered to put the Transportation Department's phone number in my cell phone. I had been meaning to do this for weeks, ever since the bus didn't show up on time because of a break down at the school. I kept forgetting. I even thought of it last Thursday when at the last minute we found out school was canceled because of the ice. I put it off and it never got done. Today, I didn't put it off, I looked up the number and plugged it in. Because I had the number, I could call as soon as I realized she wasn't with the other kids. I can't imagine the stress I would have been under had I needed to walk home and look up the number BEFORE I could call. I would have been a mess. Instead, I was able to take immediate action and that helped my panic level stay a little lower.

Whispering #2: I almost always walk down and meet Miriam at the bus. Sometimes I am late and she makes it home before I leave the house. Today I was tempted to stay in the house and let her walk home alone. I felt guilty for being lazy so I put on my jacket and headed out the door. Had I not been there to see the kids get off, I would have not known she missed her stop. I don't know any of the children or the parents personally. I would not have known what to do when she didn't come home. I wouldn't know if the bus was late, or if something happened to her as she was walking home. It would have been my worst nightmare coming true. By seeing the children, I knew the bus had come and gone. I was also able to verify that she had been on the bus and just didn't get off.

Whispering #3: Just as I was walking out the door I saw my phone sitting on the table. I knew I was running late, but I felt I should grab it and take it with me. I walked back to the kitchen and grabbed it, feeling silly because I really don't need to have my cell phone with me all the time. Especially if I'm just walking down the street. If I wouldn't have grabbed my phone, it would have been like I said before---more waiting time before I could ACT.

I'm just so grateful that today I listened to those little feelings I had. I'm sure everything would have turned out just fine if I hadn't listened, but the Lord knows me so well. He KNEW that my heart could not handle the stress of not knowing where Miriam was. Yes, I am one of THOSE mothers. My hands have barely stopped shaking and it's been an hour since I picked her up at the transportation department. Besides feeling relieved, I feel so loved. I know the Lord loves me and wants to help me not die an early death from a heart attack brought on by stress. All of this has given me a resolve to listen harder and do things when I first think of them. You just never know when something little will be the missing piece of the puzzle. None of those whisperings today seemed to be a big deal. It wasn't even until I was home with both my girls safely in my arms, that I put it all together. Again, I'm grateful for a Father who knows more than I, and is willing to help me. I need to do a better job at recognizing His help in my life. I'm sure there have been many times that it has been Him guiding me, and I end up thinking I'm a smart person with good luck. Hopefully this post will be a good reminder to you and me to look for those little whisperings throughout our lives, follow them, and then to express our gratitude for them.

**Side note: The other day a girl in our neighborhood was walking VERY slowly home. There was a little red truck driving just as slowly down the road. I felt like I needed to stay at the end of our walkway to make sure she made it to her home safely. FINALLY, the truck passed by and the girl entered her walkway, but it was a long wait. I'm sure the truck driver was wondering why I was standing there eyeballing him, but I just knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to her. All of this was very fresh on my mind as I was doing my initial search for Miriam. See why I was so scared?