That little boy...

My birthday was last Friday and I was feeling gloomy and sad a little. Chris hadn't jumped all over the "celebration" that I was expecting to have. Strange thing was I knew about it and no one else seemed to. So, after sulking till eleven I pulled Bailey aside and asked him to help inform his dad that it was indeed my big day and that he was to not let him in on the fact that I needed his help to remind him. Minutes after he told him, Chris sprung down the stairs saying in a relaxed tone "Hmm... hun, I think Bailey has a ball game today and walked near the fridge looking at the schedule on the door saying out loud "What is the date today?" I knowing then what he was doing tried not to smile and watched how this was going to play out. Not that I needed to be surprised every year but in my spoiled little mind that day I felt neglected. He said "Happy Day" and I was cured of the "Blue Birthday Blues"... at least I thought I was.

Chris got really sick later on and spent the rest of the day in bed.

I took the boys to their ball game and while sitting on the bench slightly complaining to another mom about how crappy the day felt a woman stood up next to me and shouted out, " That boys been hit!" A ten year old boy trying to cross the busy street on his bicycle had just been ran over by a passing car. I jumped to my feet, bolted down to the scene and stood over this lifeless little man. Others rushed to help and standing next to me was the young man who hit him. Stunned by what was going on I felt helpless. He layed there in a pool of blood, broken bones and near death according to the three doctors on site. All I could do was imagine my ten year old laying there and it rattled me over and over. "How could I be so selfish?", worrying only about myself. I was changed forever in that moment. The boys mother ran across the street screaming "He's my baby, He's my baby!!" How devastating it was for their family. I rushed to her side and held her. The boy was flown to Primary Children's Hospital.


I gathered up my boys, drove home and couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. "I want to be more like the Savior" I thought. Thinking less about myself and really focusing on the need to help others. Life has a way of spinning you around so that you can see what is most important to see.

That night, I wrapped my arms around my sweetheart, snuggled the kids and forgot all about myself. My birthday was beautiful. I had every gift that I could ever need. This moved me, it changed me... and I hope forever.