One Saturday evening, our daughter attended a Latter-day Saints (LDS) Stake Youth Dance approximately an hour from our home. Although she would be driving out when it was daylight, she would be coming back home when it was dark. As she would be traveling alone, I was concerned about her being by herself if she had car difficulties or a flat tire, staying vigilant and aware of drunk drivers, paying attention and being mindful of her surroundings and her speed.
I was worried. At the same time, my daughter really really wanted the experience of driving the distance on her own. My husband did not feel uneasy or uncomfortable about her going. Through the phone locator app connecting us to our children’s physical location, he shared that if she got a flat tire or had other car troubles, then he would be able to go and assist her.
I considered my personal feelings and fears and whether or not the feelings were strong enough to say no or to give her the opportunity to drive by herself. I set aside my fears and provided my support. I felt confident she would arrive safely to her destination because she was traveling while it was still light, however, I was more concerned about her traveling alone at night and was nervous when I noticed the dark, windy, country path she was on when returning home. I prayed she would be ok and was relieved and grateful when she arrived home safely.
The next morning, I left for church a few minutes ahead of everyone else as I needed to be their 15 minutes earlier and I would be staying longer after church while one of our children attended a meeting. In route to church, I awaited their call when they were heading out to join them over the phone in family prayer. When I arrived at the church, I had not yet received a call that the family had left so I reached out to them and learned that when they came outside, they had noticed that the back rear tire of our daughter’s car was flat. Upon further examination, they saw a nail in the tire causing a slow leak. It was a tender mercy that the experience did not happen while she was driving on the dark country backroads the night before. I was grateful for the huge blessing that the tire did not go completely flat until in our driveway after she was home.
When have you been grateful you or a loved one were in a safe place, out of harm’s way, when car issues occurred?
tendermercym♥ments~jld