By the time we left, the parking lot was nearly empty and I sat the boys on a picnic table to de-sand them. It's quite the process.
What happened next was such a blur and the adrenaline and emotions that over took me is something I will remember for the rest of my life. All the sudden we heard a woman yelling. I'm not talking a little upset, I'm talking ANGERY. I have never heard so much anger in a voice before. It shook me to my core. I looked up to what was going on and saw two kids being berated over what sounded like a lost flip-flop. My stomach turned, I could tell something wasn't right. As I stood up to see if I could help, her son turned back to the boardwalk and the mother hit him as hard as she could in the back of the skull causing him to collapse to the ground. Y'all....I'm in tears as I write this out. More occurred that I won't bother to imprint in your minds, I don't even want to acknowledge it in written form.
With every fiber of my body I wanted to scoop those children up, put myself between them and the woman but God told me to be still. And I have to trust Him that it was for my own safety and that of my children. She had forced the kids back on the beach to look for the sandal and that is when I knew that if I did not do something about what I had seen I would be failing God in so many ways.
Thankfully I had my phone on me and was able to take pictures of the car she was loading and reported to the police what I saw immediately. I left the beach feeling so shaken up, saddened that my children had to witness such abuse by what they view as a protective figure, and sickened for the little boy and his sister.
As I was giving my statement, several calls were coming through the radio and the officer told me that they were able to get there before she left and that apparently one of the children had injuries significant enough to call in "other services".
Sigh....what if I had quickly walked away, shook my head and tried to push the scene out of my mind?
I have to say that yesterday I really felt like I was moving at God's pace, I had slowed down and focused my entire day on the care and nurture of my family. We are never at the beach that late, but now I see how my entire day was orchestrated to be at that picnic table at that exact time. Honestly most of my days are fast paced, full, hurried, scattered. As I sat on the couch last night thinking about everything that had taken place. I was at a loss for words.
I dont want this to be a "yay me" post in anyway. I'm hoping by sharing this that we can all be reminded to slow down, be observant, stay "tuned-in" to our surroundings and when we see something that is not right that we act. I know I've turned my head the other way many times. In this world we live in that shouldn't be the choice I make. Bill shared this scripture with me from his men's group that day and I thought I would pass it along.
Faith in Action (The Message)
James Chapter 2:14-17
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
Pray for those children and for the woman I'm assuming was their mother. I'm sure there are many hurting hearts today.
oh honey. i have goose bumps and tears. i'm sorry that you had to see it and thankful that you saw it. and that you acted with such certainty and awareness. you were absolutely meant to be there. i have had a similar experience that left me feeling befuddled and confused. i did not act because i witnessed nothing, but knew something was dreadfully wrong and to this day regret that i didn't figure out how to do more. you and the family are in my prayers. matt often says....preach the gospel always and when necesary, use words.
ReplyDeleteyou did.
thank you.
oh honey. i have goose bumps and tears. i'm sorry that you had to see it and thankful that you saw it. and that you acted with such certainty and awareness. you were absolutely meant to be there. i have had a similar experience that left me feeling befuddled and confused. i did not act because i witnessed nothing, but knew something was dreadfully wrong and to this day regret that i didn't figure out how to do more. you and the family are in my prayers. matt often says....preach the gospel always and when necesary, use words.
ReplyDeleteyou did.
thank you.
tears in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteyou said: "I dont want this to be a "yay me" post in anyway."
All I can say is: YAY YOU!!
I love what you did and I hate how hard it is. So funny as my daughter just asked me why parents sometimes get mad at their kids. I was as truthful as I could be, and I told her that in our family, we don't hit to make a point. We use our words and try not to yell. I told her that some families do hit and it's very, very sad.
Anyway, much love to you. It breaks my heart mostly because that child will have such a confused time in this world. It's just not fair.
XO
C
tears in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteyou said: "I dont want this to be a "yay me" post in anyway."
All I can say is: YAY YOU!!
I love what you did and I hate how hard it is. So funny as my daughter just asked me why parents sometimes get mad at their kids. I was as truthful as I could be, and I told her that in our family, we don't hit to make a point. We use our words and try not to yell. I told her that some families do hit and it's very, very sad.
Anyway, much love to you. It breaks my heart mostly because that child will have such a confused time in this world. It's just not fair.
XO
C
I hope from your actions that a family can receive the help it needs and this woman can receive some help.
ReplyDeleteYou have more restraint than I do as I think I would have confront the woman and maybe made things worse.
I am amazed that a parent would actually 'hit' one of their own children!...how sad.
I hope your day today is filled with nothing but goodness.
I am thankful that you were there when you were. It was meant that you witnessed that horrible event. I hope the children have a brighter future because of your brave actions. Scary!
ReplyDelete{cleansing breath} I am glad you were there. I am glad you listened. I am glad you knew what to do. I am glad your children saw you speak up. I am glad you shared so we can all pray for those babies and that mama.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it so amazing how the Lord can use a moment in time to allow us to shine for His glory?!? In that moment, you were God's helping hand for those children. Who knows, maybe that simple act of obedience and care will help them come to know the Lord. I am so thankful for your sweet heart. I am sorry that you had to witness all of that, but so thankful that you did and that you allowed the Lord to use you! Hugs my sweet friend!
ReplyDelete(with tears in my eyes)...Although I am sooooo blessed to hear how you reacted to this ABSOLUTELY terrible incident, I want to pray for YOU right now honey..."I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, that God can push this memory from the forefront of your mind...not too far that you don't remember how important it is to react the way you did in situations like this, but far enough to not keep you shaken or horrified at the evil in this world." God bless you and the lives of those precious kids that experienced this awful tragedy. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI know we already spoke about this, but you definitely made the right decision. Thank God for people like you.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I get awful, terrible chills just thinking of those poor children, I don't understand how any mother (I'm assuming) could treat her children that way. Thank heavens you were there and listened to the Spirit and did what you did. Those poor kids. :(
ReplyDeleteSeriously, goosebumps! Eck! I am glad you were proactive and quick thinking.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of James, I just finished Beth Moore's latest study on James and it is excellent. You would love it!