Gone in the Blink of an Eye

Today I was scared out of my mind and realised how everything can change in the blink of an eye.  I was walking back from Mass with the kids, with Charlotte on my back and Kieran walking beside me.  He'd pushed the button to cross the street and waited for me to say it was clear to cross.  I'd waited for the green man and had seen that the car coming up was actually stopping.  Once I saw that it was clear, I gave him the OK.

At that moment, a car came speeding down the road and I shouted for Kieran to come back.  Thankfully he responded to me in time, but in my mind I could see him getting hit.   The car was going over the speed limit and the driver made absolutely no sign that she saw Kieran.  The driver of the other car that was stopping looked horrified.  I was terrified.  Kieran thought I was angry because I shouted, so once we got across the street after all that, I scooped him up and cried that I wasn't angry, just scared.  I thanked him for listening to me and clung to him.

I was still shaking when I got home, and my mind was still racing with the "what ifs".  It's all too easy to take my family for granted, when everything could change in the blink of an eye.  I thank God for my family, for I'd be lost without them.  I thank God for keeping Kieran safe today.  I cannot imagine life without him, and I hope I never have to imagine it.  It was an excellent reminder to treasure every moment, though.