Corona Virus Quarantine Day #182: Not today Satan!  September 18, 2020:

My day started with a mad dash to get out the door, not really much different than any other day.  Someone always, inevitably, either forgets something or thinks they forgot something.  So we have the “I can’t find my mask” panic for a few minutes and then we move on when we realize we are sitting on it…again.

However, our drive to school was made more interesting by a man’s attempt to run me and my five children off the road.  And yes, you read that correctly.  I was merging off Kill Creek Road onto K 10 and it’s not a super long merge lane.  A large truck very obviously slowed to let us in and so I kicked the gas and went to merge.  The second I put my foot on the gas he decided he’d speed up and literally attempt to run me off the road. 

This obviously made me mad and a little stressed because I did run out of road and have to ride on the shoulder of the road until the person behind him flagged me in (thanks to that woman that I waved at profusely to say a proper thank you).  However, what happened in the minutes that followed made me feel a rage that I had to keep under control because I had my 5 small children in the car with me. 

A few minutes later we passed the truck that had moments before attempted to run us off the road.  When we did pass him he honked his horn at us, waved his hands and laughed at us, mimicked a kiss with his mouth then flipped me off. 

Say what?!

I know he saw at least three of my kids in the car…so I have to ask myself, what in the actual hell is wrong with this man?

Not today Satan.  Not today. 

This week has been long and stressful for a multitude of reasons.  Some of our kids are struggling with the transition back to school.  Some of our kids are feeling like they aren’t “smart” because of that struggle.  They are lacking in confidence.  That’s one thing, I am NOT ok with.  So I spent a large part of my week stressing about my sweet kids and how I could help them as their mom.  In the grand scheme of things this isn’t a huge issue.  I know they will get through the struggles of starting back at school and new teachers and new expectations…but it’s my job to help them, not enable them, but instead, steer them in the right direction. 

Then, there is my job.  I love my job and so much of it is going so very well.  I’m so grateful to be in the building…but hybrid learning is the pits.  I can think of a lot of other words to describe it but for today I’ll go with “the pits”.  Today, for instance, I got kicked out of my own class by zoom, three separate times.  Sometimes, the technology just doesn’t work.  That’s frustrating.  Then you lose an opportunity to teach your kids, an opportunity that doesn’t come around that often with this weird schedule.    

So today when this man tried to harm my most precious humans and then laughed about it and flipped me off, he had pushed me too far. 

I had to say to myself…not today Satan.  Not today. 

The kids started asking a lot of questions.  “Mommy, why would he do that?”  That question was asked repeatedly. 

So I guess, I felt that I had an opportunity.  As much as I wanted to call him the name he deserved and flip him off right back…I know a few things.  One, I had an opportunity to teach my kids about grace and forgiveness.  Two, in today’s day and age flipping anyone off is NOT a good idea.  So I took a deep breath and said to our children, “I don’t know why he did that but I’m guessing he has had a bad week and he just took it out on us.”

“Why would he do that mom?”

I told them several times that I didn’t know why he did it, but that JESUS wants us to hate the sin, not the sinner.  That man made a bad and dangerous choice.  Maybe he has life circumstances that we couldn’t even begin to understand.  While that doesn’t excuse his behavior, maybe today, instead of being mad at him we should just pray for him.

The kids seemed to understand that.  So that is what we did.  We prayed that this man’s day would improve and Fiona added “so that he won’t do that to anyone else.”  Also Finley even said “doesn’t Hamilton say that mom, hate the sin, love the sinner in the room where it happens song.”  This turned my mood right around.  It was a proud moment, not gonna lie.

I love the innocence of children. I love how they assume everyone is good and are truly disturbed when they realize everyone is not.  As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our kids right from wrong, good from bad and this man provided me an opportunity today.  While I would have preferred my Friday started differently I am going to chalk this up as a moment of grace provided by GOD himself. 

I’m not going to tell you I’m not happy that today is Friday.  Our volleyball girls played awesome today, I got to come home and snuggle my people and tonight Fletcher lost his second tooth, his excitement and the kids excitement for him was real and so so fun!  So really, all I can do is celebrate all the awesome around me.  I’m grateful for my family, our girls (team) and for our community of people both at St. James and Sacred Heart. 

To the man who ran me off the road today.  We prayed for you.  I hope your day improved.  Next time maybe think about what you are doing.  I drive a mini van. It’s a Friday at 7am…my car likely has kids in it.  I hope that you think about that next time.  But…thanks for the opportunity to teach my kids a valuable lesson. 

Not today Satan.  Not today!

#dorseyshenanigans

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