No Accident

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Proverbs 23:18-19 (NIV)

I left you hanging last night with my brief statement about youngest son’s car accident. I had not intended on mentioning it here. When I started the post about my eyes that was not the ending I planned. But, I guess it was on my mind more than I thought and as I reached the end of my self imposed 500 words, there it was. Here are the details. He was on a busy highway driving to his High School for senior picture day. A man in his mid fifties crossed two lanes of traffic and made a left turn right towards youngest son. Thankfully, youngest son was paying attention and reacted quickly avoiding a collision that would have been close to head on. Since the other man was in a small convertible, it could have been tragic. Instead, youngest son ended up driving over a steep curb and up on the sidewalk. Though there was no impact and neither car had body damage, the entire underneath of youngest son’s car is creamed. He will need a new transmission, two wheels and some other parts that I don’t remember. His car is likely totaled. Surprisingly, the man who caused the accident and whose car was not hurt stopped to make sure youngest son was okay and waited for the police to come. I say, surprisingly, because it was 11:00 in the morning and his abrupt turn was to reach the entrance to a bar. The man confided to husband that though he was sorry that youngest son was involved, he was glad it happened on his way into the bar and not out of it. Sigh. He got two tickets, one for failure to yield to oncoming traffic and causing an accident and driving without proof of insurance. But, again, he surprised us by calling with his policy information and claim number. Despite all the hassles that come with an accident, something really neat happened. Those of you who have read my blog for a while now know that four years ago youngest son was sullen, angry and miserable. His hot temper often got him into trouble. He was close to being expelled from school. At that time, we were convinced by now, he would be in jail. I am not joking. It was that bad. But, in the last four years, an amazing transformation has taken place. He is mature, respectful, and kind. Honestly, we feel like he is a different person, yet, we see the sweetness and potential of his childhood in the body of an adult. The man who hit youngest son took husband aside to say what a nice young man he was. He stated, “When I saw that big boy get out of that car, I thought I was in real trouble. But, he was polite and calm. You have raised a good boy.” God gets the credit not us, but it sure feels good. No matter how dark the day, there is always hope.