The Accidental Soldier

Today I was in a car accident. It wasn't anything major, just a minor bumper thumper. I was going down the road on the way to meet my sister for lunch. This person in front of me slammed on brakes and then began to back up. I laid down on my horn to let him/her know that I was behind them but it was too late! Bam! A Chevy Tahoe from Mississippi hit me. This isn't what I wanted. I woke up with a bad migraine and wasn't in the mood to discuss an accident that apparently wasn't my fault.

I got out of my car and met the driver of the Tahoe. It was a gentleman wearing an Army t-shirt. He immediately apologized and stated that he was out-of-town and running some errands for his sister. His niece and nephews told him he missed their road so he thought if he stopped quick enough he would still be able to make the turn but he couldn't so he thought he could back up enough to turn and that is when he hit me. He admitted fault.

I explained to him that since I was driving a newer vehicle I thought I needed to call the police so that insurance could be filed. But first I wanted to call my brother. The damages were minimal and I thought that my brother could come look at the car and tell me if he could fix the bumper. But my brother was out of state. He told me to call the police so that there wouldn't be any issues down the road about getting my car repaired. The gentleman was okay with that.

I dialed 911 and let them know there had been an accident but no injuries. Well, they weren't going to make haste in dispatching an officer to the scene. The gentleman and I talked for what seemed like forever. He let me know that he was on a 3-week leave and traveling the east coast to visit family that he hadn't seen in a long time. He was active military and the father of an 8-month old.

I began telling him how much I appreciated our people in armed forces and I let him know that I didn't want this accident to be a big deal. We began discussing what I might do because I really didn't want to file any insurance against him. I figured he was doing so much more to serve my country and the scratches and superficial dents were all cosmetic. There was nothing wrong with the mechanics of the vehicle. The body was still all properly aligned. He somehow hit the corner of my bumper and didn't even hit the headlight.

Then the Lord impressed upon me to share my faith with him but I didn't know how that would come up. And it hit me! The accident was at Laurel Road and I began laughing as I told the guy that I went to Laurel Baptist. I called 911 and explained the situation that it was a soldier on leave and I would just as soon let both of us go on our merry way without filing an incident report. I told the officer that I just wanted permission to leave the scene so that I would not be accused of leaving the scene of the accident. He asked me why I would want to do such a thing and I said: "Has this soldier asked any of us to repay him for his service to our country? This is the least I can do to show my appreciation to him." The officer told me that he would cancel the dispatch and said, "I can't believe there are still good people out there. God bless you and have a great year."

The gentleman asked me why I was willing to just overlook it all and I explained to him what I told the officer. "You're doing a lot more for my country than I can imagine. This car is only a means of transportation and nothing more." He wanted to give me a hundred dollars to take care of the damages but I declined. He was very insistent so I finally went to his vehicle and asked the children to take the money back. I told him to take the children shopping or hold on to it and give it to someone in need. I hugged this perfect stranger and told him thanks for serving my country. He looked at me in bewilderment and asked: "What makes you able to do this?" I told him that sometimes it's not about receiving a blessing but rather about being a blessing.

Will he remember me? Probably not. Will I remember him? Yes, I have thought about this accident throughout the day and think I am going to let that scratched bumper stay that way to serve as a reminder of today. I will be reminded of the day a soldier ran into me and how God used a bumper thumper to touch both of our hearts. It is my prayer that he will remember what I did and not to bring glory to me but so that he can know that there are people out there who appreciate our military and that not everyone is out for self gain.

John Homer Miller said: "Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. Circumstances and situations do color life but you have been given the mind to choose what the colors shall be."

Independence Day

Today is my favorite holiday of the year! I love the Fourth of July! I love God and my country. I love the soldiers who have shed their blood here and abroad to keep our nation free. I love the vets who served in our nation's wars. Many never came home.

I'm not sure when I began to love the Fourth of July. Perhaps it could have been as a child when we would wait with great anticipation for my Dad to set off the fireworks. I remember as a really young girl how my sister and I were treated like fragile glass. The boys had all the fun with the bottle rockets, firecrackers, and so forth. My sister and I loved the sparklers and the little black dots that when lit looked like snakes coming out of the ground. Every year we looked forward to that. One year I got burnt by a missile that went in the wrong direction. Another year one of my older brothers lit a firecracker that I was holding behind my back. I didn't know what he was up to until the thing exploded in my hand. It hurt then but now it is a precious memory of my childhood.

I was raised in a Baptist church and the Fourth of July was a big part of my faith. It was a time to celebrate the lives of those who died to buy our freedom and the ultimate sacrifice; God's death on Calvary that would redeem not just a country but the world. I loved singing the patriotic songs and as I got older I began to claim The Battle Hymn Of the Republic as my favorite.

In 1993 my church got a new preacher and Pastor Kelley hosted an annual Patriotic Program. Our church invited dignitaries, local politicians, those in armed forces, law enforcement, firefighters, etc. We have church members dressed up as famous American leaders and we have an awesome mini-drama. We have the posting of the colors, a prayer for our nation and her leaders, and my favorite parts of the show are the children's flag parade and recognition of the military.

As independent fundamental Baptist we are known to be very conservative but on the Fourth of July we are almost transformed into a charismatic group! I love to hear the choir sing the songs representing the various miliatary branches. Current soldiers and past vets come forward as their song is played. Some will be shouting at the top of their lungs. I am usually crying. I cry when the Marines go forward because my dad was a Marine during the Vietnam War. I cry when the Navy song is played because my oldest brother was in the Navy during Desert Storm and I cry when the Army song is played because my oldest brother is now an officer in the Army National Guard.

Another part of celebrating the Fourth of July is usually partaking in cookouts or barbeques and usually you might end up at the lake, beach, or a friend's house who has a pool. We eat and visit and wait for nightfall to approach so that we can begin to set off fireworks. And as each one explodes in the sky we ooh and aah about the beauty of it all. I don't live far from Ft. Jackson and every year they host a spectacular program with concessions, military band, posting of colors and a professional fireworks display.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.”- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

All this is great and wonderful and makes me proud to be an American but I don't base my Independence Day solely on the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1176. That date would declare our separation and freedom from England and allow us to establish our own great nation. But my freedom dates back further than that. My freedom was bought for a greater price. My freedom was at Calvary more than 2,000 years ago when Christ hung on a cross and died that I might go free. Christ paid a debt he did not owe because I owed a debt I could not pay. Calvary was a gift given to all mankind but eternal life will not be yours unless you personally accept that gift.

When you celebrate our nation's birth remember the Lord's death. When you call to rememberance the death of all who have sacrificed their lives for our country take a moment to thank the Lord for sending His son to Calvary. When you remember the blood that was shed and innocent lives that were lost remember the blood of the Lamb of God who was without sin yet chose to be persecuted and murdered for us so that He could buy us eternity.

Matthew 26:28 (KJV) says, "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (A blood donor saved my life).

John 15:13 (KJV) says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."

GOD BLESS AMERICA LAND THAT I LOVE!