Saturday's Silverlinning

well it didn't happen today, but I thought it would be a good story to tell. I have a new leaf I'm turning over, but that is for another post.

Thursday morning was a tough day for me. The whole week was tiresome, daunting really. Thursday was just the tip of the iceburg. Alec didn't sleep all night. I take that back, he slept, but not well and in bed with me. All of those who have children know what I'm talking about. It was one of those nights where you just pull them in bed with you hoping that atleast one of you gets some sleep, but it just doesn't work. AND sleeping with a toddler in your bed is the worst possible way to try to get sleep anyways because it's like the defy gravity or any sense that someone is actually near them.

Anyways, I digressed. Alec didn't sleep well. My sitter for the day woke up late, which made me late. I decided to drop him off since it was on my way and that wouldn't make me near as late as me waiting for the sitter to get there. So I drop Alec off. I notice that my gas gage was getting to the point that I needed to get gas. My gas gage is broken, so this is all by estimate. I forgot that Dad borrowed my car the day before, so I probably would have stopped for gas sooner, but I didn't remember. I thought I could atleast make it to school on time, then get gas later. I was wrong. At the 70, 465, shadeland exits (yes it's just a spagehtti bowl of exits and ramps) I ran out of gas. I'm atleast able to pull off on the shadeland exit so my walk wouldn't be as far.

I put on my flashers, and started trotting. It was about a 10 min jog. I get there, buy gas, gloves, and high tail it back to my car. It was about 20 out and the wind was colder. The jug I bought had an ill fitting cap, and leaked gas all over my coat, pants, shoes, and gloves. I finally got back to my car, filled her up, and tried to start her. It didn't start. I was scared. A car pulled up infront of me and put on their flashers. An elderly gentleman came to my window and asked me if I was okay. I said I ran out of gas and couldn't get the car started. He told me to pop my hood, so I did. We worked together, and I got my car started. He waved and went on his way. I was thankful, yet my heart was pounding. I was scared, but God watched over me and sent me an angel. It was my turn to become the angel, and my task was not a menial one.

Since I was covered in gas, and I only had one hour of class left, I decided to go home instead. I trecked home, tired, sad, and broken. I felt that my life would constantly be one like this. I'm one of those people that would have no luck then the bad luck I carry around. I pulled into the driveway at the sitters defeated.

I went in, conversed, and ate breakfast. Then came for my time to step up. The sitter's house faces the backyard of a daycare center. It became known to me that a little child was standing on the back porch of this day care. He was in a tee shirt, jeans, no coat, no gloves, and no one near or around to watch him. This poor child couldn't be more than four. He just stood outside, blowing iced air in puffs the way a person smoking a cigarette would. Remember I said it was a good 20 below and the wind made it much, much colder. The teacher (I presume) poked her head out of a back door a good while longer. She had short hair pulled back in a pony tail, had on a black, long sleeved sweater type shirt, and glasses. She said, "Are you ready to come back inside and join us?" Which the child promptly hung his head and proceeded to walk back inside.
The rage inside me burst. I could not believe the inhumanity. This was a child. If anyone did this to my son I would have their heart on a platter so fast that they would be able to watch it beat it's final beat before the breath of life escaped from their lips. I found the phone book and searched for Child Services. I called and reported this instance to the abuse hotline.

So, I guess my silverlinning is hard to find. Don't worry, I'll spell it out for you. Yeah, I had a bad day. Through all this bad, I found out one thing about myself. The reason why all this bad happens to me is because I am somehow capable of going the extra distance to help others in my time of need. If I hadn't ran out of gas, or decided to go home, I wouldn't have seen this poor child outside waiting. There would not have been a call against the day care center. Worse things could have happened to this poor boy.

I plan on writing a letter to the school letting them know it was me who called. I want them to know what I witnessed. I want them to know that I am watching. I want them to know I will call on them again if I feel the need. I want them to know that I will be an advocate for the children since they are not. I want them to know that the children in our world are the most important resource our planet could give us. We need to treat them just as so.