God’s Perfect Timing…

I woke up today thinking today is going to be a good day! I didn’t think that would mean I would be lucky enough to miss a train from hitting me.

I gave my 3 little kids hugs and kisses before they left for school, gave my 16 year old son a hug before he left for school, and gave my husband a kiss before he left for an appointment. I didn’t think it could have been the last hug or the last kiss.

Today started off like any other day. I didn’t think it would be a day that would change me…have me to my knees crying.

The kids went to school. My husband left for an appointment. I got myself ready. I thought since it was Monday, I “deserved” a little pick me up… Starbucks. I got in my vehicle, backed up and didn’t realize the recycling bin was literally right behind my vehicle until I heard the bin fall. I got out of my vehicle and realized a bunch of items blew to the other side of the driveway. I then spent a couple minutes picking up boxes and bottles. I thought to myself, “I definitely deserve Starbucks for this.” I drove to the end of the driveway and realized some of the trash ended up on the yard of the house next to the townhomes where we live. I parked my vehicle, grabbed more empty boxes as well as water and gatorade bottles, and put them in my vehicle.

I was driving through town and on my left I saw there was someone outside at the new bar in town that’s going to be opening up soon. Of course like any normal person, I look at what that person was up to. I was looking to my left at the restaurant, was going over the train tracks and then as I went over the train tracks…. I saw it and heard it. Headlights coming at me and the loud train coming straight at me as I was driving on the tracks. It’s like a movie clip of someone not knowing the train is coming, looking towards the side, they see the train headlights, and then BOOM…. they get hit.

I didn’t get hit though. My vehicle didn’t even get nicked. The crazy part is literally THE MOMENT I drove over the tracks, I looked at my rear view mirror and I saw the front of the train drive by behind me. That’s when I saw the flashing lights that warned vehicles that the train was coming. From the moment I looked at the person outside the restaurant and drove on the tracks was maybe 2-4 seconds. If I drove on those tracks 1 or 2 seconds later than I did, I wouldn’t be here writing this blog post.

The first person I called was Niña. Then as I was talking to her, it hit me and I had to hang up. I literally almost died. The kids would have went to school today and would come home to no mom. My husband would have been a widow. Niña would have lost her other half… her best friend. There would have been a freak accident in our small town in Iowa.

I drove to Starbucks bawling. Got my drink because now I REALLY need it even though this is what almost killed me. Headed back home and drove by the train tracks. At first I thought maybe the bar that was supposed to drop to warn vehicles didn’t go down. There was a glitch maybe, I thought. When I headed back I realized there isn’t an arm at that railroad crossing. It’s only the flashing lights that warned you.

I got home and cried some more and prayed. I literally thanked God. God and angels were looking after me at that specific moment. It wasn’t my time.

About an hour after I got home, I had to pull it together and jumped on a call for work. I get to be part of a cool new feature of Google. As I was on the zoom call, I was thinking “wow, they literally have no idea what just happened to me about an hour ago”… “I’m lucky to be alive, be on this call right now, and create content for people.”

I didn’t go to church yesterday but I listened to the Lutheran Church of Hope “come to Jesus” sermon today. What was it about? God’s perfect timing.

As Pastor Mike always says… It’s no accident you’re here. God has a plan for your life. On this specific sermon he said “Timing is incredible.”

I’ve been an emotional wreck today. I cry mainly happy tears that I get to live another day and be with the people I love. I get to still be here to experience life as well as be here to share my passions, my faith, and God’s love.

I ask you all to…

Hug your family even tighter. Tell them you love them.

Don’t be easily distracted when driving. Pay attention.

Don’t take a day for granted because in a split second, your life could change.

Praise God for today!

xx

Cecilia