Slow down, and be a family…

The resent and tragic death of Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter brought me to my knees.  Not because this family is considered celebrities, or because their little girl was an orphan. The simple reality that this accident could have happened to any of us, brought that familiar “punch in the gut” feeling, followed by prayerful tears.

     

Just two weeks ago we sat down as a family for a quick reality check, brought on by a re-occurring nagging maternal instinct I could not shut off.  Living in the suburbs now, with two teen age drivers, constant visitors or houseguests, and two more “permit holders” just a few months away.  We have a minimum of 4 cars in front of the house at any point during the day, and a street full of little ones playing. 

         

      I kept thinking of the rush of life we are now in again, the sports, the jobs, the meetings and the appointments, the constant rushing in and out of our house, in and out of the garage, up and down the driveway.  Meanwhile, our favorite neighborhood child is our own 5 year old Noah, riding his bike, running around with is buddies in front of our home.  “This is a perfect set up for a stupid accident”, a voice kept whispering to me for several days as I unpacked boxes, and between my daily runs to Wal-mart restocking the simple necessities of life. 

 

And so Daddy called everyone for a meeting.  We sat around our kitchen table as a family, like we have a million times before, the same kitchen table that has Michaels 3^rd grade history project accidentally carved in the wood.  The same table that Caleb and Emilie sanded and painted with me a few years ago when we were snowed in and needed a project.  The same table that I attacked with a screw-driver on Christmas Eve in 1996, over-wrought with grief after the death of my first husband, frustrated, exhausted and angry trying to assemble gifts for little girls to open the next morning.  This same table has changed colors, changed rooms and houses, but has a history that makes me want to protect it like a precious family heirloom. 

         

       Our meeting this day was simple, back to basics, defining who we are and what we stand for.  We are the “Blacks”; we are family first, ministers of the Kingdom in everyday life, no matter where we live or how busy we get.  Dinner is at six tonight, and almost every night a home cooked favorite. Bible study and prayer is how we start our days….PERIOD.  We pray together, we eat together, we protect each other. No radio blasting while you are driving, no talking on your cell phone without an ear-piece, and absolutely no text messaging while you are trying to drive.  We will ALL identify Noah’s whereabouts before we climb in our cars, even if you are running late,especially if you are running late. 

 

        Life has dealt us enough tragedy and pain, lets not willingly sign up for more, if we parish defending our country or our God, so be it.  Let’s not loose precious members of this tribe in the rush of life, over things that do not matter, over appointments and sports that may or may not be there, no matter what we do.

      All the family agreed we need to slow down, refocus, and protect the vulnerable under our care, cherish everyday…and remember who we are, and what REALLY matters. 

 

This horrible accident broadcast over the radio and internet confirmed it all to us again, the price is just too high.  I cannot even begin to imagine the grief, shock and desperate pain this family is in, we must all pray for them to be bathed in Grace during this season.  Their unspeakable tragedy is a reminder to all of us to slow down, take a deep breath. 

      Make love to your spouse, you have no promise of tomorrow, trust me, I know.  Hold your babies, look them in the eye, listen to their hearts, teach them the Word of God, it is the best preparation they will ever receive to handle life.  Make a meal, and sit and talk, turn off the TV, un-plug your I-Pod, and for the love of God turn off your cell phone.

The most interesting, fascinating, and important people you will ever meet are right in front of you….