Pinned
So I went to Walmart yesterday – my alltime favorite place to be during the holidays. *cough snort hack* Thankfully the trip was pretty uneventful until I got to the parking lot.
As I was loading my packages in the car I felt growing pressure from my cart against my leg. I turned to look and LO, A CAR WAS BACKING IN TO ME.
I hurried and jumped out of the way as another man came to my rescue to yell at the driver of the vehicle. The poor guy never did stop backing into me until he had the cart thoroughly crushed between his bumper and mine. Finally his little straight-shift stalled and his car died.
He never did figure out what he’d done.
The car cranked again and the fellow pulled into a parking space. Both the knight-in-shining-armor man and I stood there in disbelief that the driver never even knew what’d just happened. Then it dawned on me…he may be elderly.
I ran over to his car to make sure he was okay. A darlin’ older gentleman climbed out of the car and said, “Well hi there, little lady!” Never had a clue he’d almost chopped my legs off.
I said, “Are you okay? I don’t think your car is hurt and neither is mine but I was afraid you may be shaken up.”
He: “I know! I just felt some car run in to me! Did you see it?”
Yeah, dude. I saw it. I felt it.
I’M STILL SHRIEKING ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE OF IT.
I said, “As long as you’re okay that’s all that matters.” And I did mean that from the bottom of my heart.
He thanked me for checking on him and walked away.
I haven’t been able to quit thinking about that sweet man. Can’t imagine how painful it is when it’s time to hang up the keys. I wonder if he has anyone to help him get his groceries if he does. I wonder if he has a wife at home to take care of him. I wonder if he has a Savior.
And I wish I had tried harder to pin him in that parking lot long enough to find out.
Oh friend…if only more people reacted in this same manner to these types of altercations.
Bless you sweet friend and bless that sweet old man.
I love that he thought the car ran into him! :)
It’s sometimes easy to forget that all those faces at Walmart have a story, and an eternal destination…your post reminded me of that today.
I thought that the other day when I was at the kiosk in the mall talking to a 20 year old Israeli who was trying to sell me Dead Sea Eye Serum. I should have shared Jesus with him.
Glad you’re okay. Love how you just let him keep thinking the car hit him.
What an encounter. Bless you for loving on him like that!
I have a friend from college, who was going to be a bridesmaid in our wedding, who couldn;t because she did get pinned–broke her femur and she couldn’t walk for several months.
I’m so thankful that wasn’t your story, sister! Praying for the man–that he will know Jesus as His Savior.
Oh man….glad you are ok..and him.
I hate it when I think of all sorts of “good” things after the fact. Dangit! Poor guy.
He just might need that little incident to get him parked before he really does chop off someone’s legs.
It stinks getting old.
I know what you mean about wishing you had more time to talk with someone. And whoever said that everyone at Walmart has a story is right. I was checking out the other day that the poor girl checkin’ me out started telling me about her marital problems. I felt so bad for her and just wanted to give her a hug. I hope she is ok.
Oh how many missed opportunities we have ALL had. I am so glad that you are ok, Lisa and that you handled it with such grace! You showed him Jesus even if it wasn’t in words. Lord, help us all to be more aware of the times when you hand us chances to share YOU with others.
Beth Herring
You are precious and I heart you.
I’m glad your leg isn’t chopped off, too. :)
Good thoughts sister!
In all fairness to the old guy…you standing straight up and tall would have still probably been below the sight of his rear view mirror. :p~~
Thanks for sharing your story. Most folks wouldn’t have reacted the way you did, most would have just ‘flown off the handle’.
You’ll be blessed.
Smiles,
Carol
Oh Lisa – what a horrible and hilarious situation! You handled it all so sweetly – bless you!
What great book fodder you now have!
I can just see this little old man saying…hey lady and did you see who hit me! I am laughing at this and also know, it could be me someday. YES…this little old man has a story and now you are part of it! I pray he saw Jesus in your actions.
Bless…Shell
I remember when we had to take the keys away from my Daddy, God rest his soul. It was so painful for us and most for him. His independece was taken away.
We were there to take care of him thereafter. Like you said, I hope this little man has someone at home to love on him.
Blessings,
Cazandra
One more thing you could have done was to take his license plate number and call the police. Sometimes elderly drivers need to be told they aren’t safe behind the wheel. He is incredibly fortunate that it was you and not some child in the cart. I have recently gone through this kind of situation–taking keys away from elderly relatives who have no business driving because they just aren’t safe any more. It’s a hard thing, but in the long run, you’ve done him a favor.
Hang on…I’m laughing over the first line…*cough, snort, hack*
Ok..I’ll go finish it.
Well, now I just feel terrible that I laughed over the first line, but then something else you said that started with “LO” got me again.
I am sooooooo glad you are ok. And, you also have a heart of gold.
I am so glad that you were not harmed!!!
I’m so glad I know exactly where my 86 year-old father was when this happened.
When my Daddy was 84 we asked him to quit driving. It was the hardest thing I ever did. Six months later on his 85th birthday I took him to renew his drivers license. That’s right. He hadn’t driven in six months and wasn’t going to drive but it was important to him to have that license “for an emergency.” I have already told my own children that if not before I will quit driving at 80. I drove them a million miles when they were kids – I expect them to return the favor. :) blessings, marlene
Thanks so much for sharing that Lisa. And what an awesome reminder for us to use every opportunity! I hope when you tell us about your Christmas Tree, the bacteria ball, mall crazy and dangerous driving, you will still be weaving His encouragement, challenge and love into the stories. Thanks for writing!
p.s. when can I buy your book? :)
You have such a precious heart.
My great grandparents were killed because they pulled out in front of any 18 wheeler when they were too old to be driving. I always wonder about the poor man who hit them.
Of course, I am only 38 and drive worse than most 83 year olds…but at least my reflexes are faster ;)
You have such a good heart Lisa. Bless you, you handled that with such grace.
Lisa, this brought tears to my eyes! You are such a blessing and have the Lord’s spirit just oozing from your pores! I love you!
I work for State Farm. I’ve been enlisted to have that conversation with an aging parent – and have been in the place to comfort the children who are grieving their parents’ advancing years. It’s so hard for them to give up their independence… and so dangerous some times when they don’t.
There are missed opportunities every day. I am praying for God to show me those opportunities as they happen…
*hugs*
heather
Note to self: Don’t sip coffee while reading Lisa’s blog. I nearly spewed it all over my computer laughing. LOL!
How scary, Lisa! Whew…SO, SO GLAD you are okay –Thank You, Jesus!!!
Well an 80 year old preacher pulled out in front of me and then accused me of speeding! ha
Not to be offensive to the older generation but they seriously need to retest them at a certain age!!!!
Glad your legs didn’t get chopped off. (We have lots of shopping to do come March…oh wait…February first) hahahhaha
Yikes!
Incredible way to handle it, too…I always believe that God orchestrates these encounters. Mostly to see how I will handle them. Usually…not so well.
Glad you (and he) are okay. Lol. I just can’t help but giggle a little. I try to get my children to be more forgiving with elderly drivers reminding them that I will be elderly someday, too…they tell me, “yeah, but we’re not going to let YOU drive!”