Beech Tree News Network

Years ago, when our business was new, I sat in the seat of a muscle car and turned the key.  The engine roared to life.  I waited as our friend and business partner, Greg, checked the transmission fluid and closed the hood.  “Pull it out,” he said.
    I put the car in gear, put my foot on the accelerator and the car took on a life of its own, literally.  For some reason, the accelerator stuck and the car lunged forward and out into our parking lot.  There were two fortuitous things that aligned that day for which I will be forever grateful: One, the large bay door in front of the car was open, and two, Greg Hampton can really move when he has to.
    Greg jumped quickly out of the way as the car sped out of the door, leaving tire marks on the floor of our building.  As the car roared toward the parking lot next door, all I could think to do was steer to the right, because the gas tanks that belonged to the convenience store were to the left.  Fortunately, the brakes I had been stomping on with all my might finally engaged and stopped the vehicle before I approached any danger.  I learned something important that day: sometimes, no matter how hard you stomp the brakes, there will be times in your life when something unforeseen will propel you forward, and you’d better have the presence of mind to keep your hands on the steering wheel.
    I wish I had had the wisdom to do that when my children were little, but I didn’t.  I was one of those women who probably never should have had children.  I could give you a list of reasons and excuses as to why that was so, but the list matters little now, and it mattered even less at the time.  I was very overwhelmed by the realization that I was responsible for other lives, and even though there were people around me who could have helped, I didn’t understand that it was alright to ask, so subsequently, I took my hands off the steering wheel of a runaway car, and we crashed into the gas tanks next door in a spectacular explosion of fear, guilt and anger. I remained stuck there for years until the birth of my granddaughter, Sabria.
    My daughter, Natalie, is one of the best moms I’ve ever known, and I don’t know how.  It sure wasn’t because of the example I set.  Natalie has allowed me to take part in raising Sabria, and because of that, I have been able to move forward and be the kind of mom to Natalie that I needed to be when she was growing up. 
    One of the things I say over and over to my little granddaughter—and to myself, as well—is “Keep your head.”  It is the most important life skill I have acquired in my sixty years on this earth.  You can’t always be in control of every situation, but you can choose how you react to it, and the way you react in adverse circumstances depends on the relationship you have developed with yourself.
    I read recently that faith has to do with your attitude toward God and love involves your attitude toward your fellow man, but hope is the estimation of what you think of yourself, the confidence you have in yourself to succeed (God Calling, edited by A.J. Russell).      I started my life’s journey afraid every day that I would encounter a situation I could not handle.  I worked my way through to the place where I realized that learning is exponential, and the realization that any new thing could be built upon the knowledge I learned before.  I have finally reached the place in my life where I am not afraid to learn a totally new thing—too exhausted sometimes, but not afraid. 
    I realize I can’t foresee or control everything life has in store for me.  Occasionally, I’m going to find myself in the seat of a runaway muscle car.  But I finally have the presence of mind to keep my hands on the wheel, and I can steer myself and anybody riding with me away from the gas tanks.