I know it’s presumptuous of me to think my arm is going to do more than a factory-tested seat belt, but alas, it’s instinctual for a mama to protect her young, even when her young are both taller than she is at this point.
On Dec. 2, our 15-year-old daughter and I were hit by a car. The driver t-boned the passenger-side door where Lily was sitting. Neither of us saw it coming, and it wasn’t until Lily’s window shattered and her side air bag deployed that I realized what was happening.
After the initial impact, the oncoming car pushed us across three lanes of traffic, up over the curb of the sidewalk, and along a chain link fence until we finally came to rest, narrowly missing a telephone pole in the process.
What probably lasted five seconds felt like 10 minutes, and the most vivid thing I remember is my hand reaching out to grab Lily’s arm – not quite able to make it up to shield her chest. Instinctual responses persist, especially during crises.
The paramedics waited with us until Craig came and took me to the hospital where I spent the night for observation, having fractured four vertebrae during the collision. Miraculously, Lily was cleared and suffered only surface cuts and abrasions from the broken glass and air bag. She played in a lacrosse tournament a week later.
I’m at home recovering, resting and spending most of these days being still ¬¬- none of which are my resting state. People have been amazing, bringing me slippers to the hospital, dropping off meals at the house, providing Lily rides to her activities, sending texts that make me laugh and generally being the hands and feet of Jesus. And through it all Craig is ever present and helpful. I am blessed.
I know it’s not my arm that protected her. My silent prayer continues to be “Thank you, God.” If anything, I’m aware now, more than ever, of how little control I have over anything that happens to my kids.
Despite that knowledge, I don’t think I’ll stop throwing my arm across their chest anytime soon. It’s just what a mama does.
“But You, O LORD, are a shield about me. My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalm 3:3
