We settled into our seat at church. And we heard about Moses from Exodus 3 and how God spoke to him through a burning bush. We were challenged to surrender and trust God in our own lives.
“There is a lie that many believe, that our lives are just a journey of chance.” – My sweet dad (who is also our pastor)
And he quoted Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
We had lunch with friends. And on our way home, while our children listened to Ipods and our baby chattered words we couldn’t understand, a car in front of us slowed down to make a turn. And in the middle of the mundane, our car was hit from behind by an 18 wheeled truck. Our bodies flew forwards and then backwards, and our seats snapped, bouncing up and down from the impact. Shattered glass from the back window lay at our feet. And I had never been more relieved to hear my children crying.
The ambulance whistled and we were taken to the hospital and released within hours.
And days later we pulled into a towing yard where our car was one of many broken and wrecked. J’s hands bled from the glass found in our coats and books and strollers.
“I don’t know if we should even keep this stuff,” he murmured.
It’s clearer now than ever. It’s just stuff.
Gracie nudged me and pointed to a shell of a car yards away. “I don’t think they made it,” she said as she stared off. It made our accident look like a bump in the road.
And we left the lot with its chain length fence and barbed wire and broken pieces of people’s lives. But I know each car there could tell a story, a story of not making it to their destination on time or not making it at all.
And when we drove out, the dust flew in the air and the gravel underneath the tires of our rental car were crushed deeper into the ground. And the radio played, but it’s the words of Jeremiah 29:11 that rang in my ears.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
amanda t dodson 
Oh my gosh Amanda, I am so thankful you are all okay! Wow, I sure didn’t expect that when I came over here today — I am rattled! SO very glad you linked up — your story is incredibly powerful. He DOES know the plans HE has for us. He DOES protect our hearts, our souls, our bodies. I am so very glad. And so very thankful it all turned out okay. Love you!!
Yes… there are great plans for your family…. so much more to do 🙂
I don’t even know what to say.
I imagine you are reliving this, the what if’s .
So so glad you are all okay.