When Two Worlds Collide

You turned my wailing into dancing: you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.  Ps. 30:11

Friday night, two mothers' adult sons left to enjoy the evening.  One was to return to his parents home, the other to an apartment with his brother.  Both were only a year and half apart in age, but adults in their own right.  Just a typical Friday evening for two college sons.

As the evening came to an end, their worlds and two mothers' worlds collided. Within two miles of both mothers' homes, on the interstate highway, life would take a turn.  My son watched the speeding car approach the back of his car and pass him as if he was standing still. Within seconds, both of their worlds would change.  My son knew that something was about to happen. The speeding car tried unsuccessfully to go between two other cars and a terrible wreck ensued, killing the young driver. Car pieces, smoke and sparks were flying as my son moved his vehicle through the debris with his mind racing on what he had just witnessed.  This was not a movie or a video game, it was real life.

The young man in the car was pronounced dead at the scene...my son returned to his apartment, safe, but very disturbed.  As the story continued to develop, our worlds crossed even more.  The young man was age 20, my son, 22.  He lived within two miles of our home, and was the neighbor of our close friends.  He was within one exit of his home when the wreck occurred.

As the harsh reality sank into my chilled spine, I lifted my thanksgiving to God for the safety of my son, while my heart raced to the mother who lived so near and the unbearable grief she was going through.  I was offering up Praise, she was planning a funeral.

I continued to pray for this mother as I prayed for my son to work through what he had seen.  Then on Wednesday, I entered the school  where I mentor, the teachers were all wearing black.  The girl I was to meet with is in 5th grade, she turned and commented, “Oh, all the teachers are in black today because of the teacher’s son who died.”  I stopped in my tracks.  The other mother is a teacher at the school where I volunteer.  The teachers were leaving the school to attend the funeral.

Before I entered the school, I had texted my adult kids to inform them of the time of the funeral and to be in prayer. But when I returned home, I read the specifics from the paper.  The family had requested, in lieu of flowers, for donations to go to the organization for which I volunteer.  They were giving back to other children with the loss of their own.

Two mothers, two sons...our worlds collide!  My heart still aches and my prayers go out to the family and a woman I have never met, but through God’s providence, I now have seen her world. My son was one of the few people who saw the last minutes of her son’s life.

I hug my children again, and release them again, into the Father’s hands, while weeping for another mother, who may never know our worlds collided.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15