All my life I have always had these fears, I think it goes back to all my "scary" experiences I have delt with.
When I was 4 years old I got lost at the Discovery Center. My mom took my brother to the car because he wasn't feeling good. My dad was suposde to be in charge of me. He thought my mom took me back to the car as well.. But really I had wandered off to look at the electricity center. My dad walked about 10 minutes away to bring some food back to the car. Little did he know I was lost on the top level of the Discovery Center. Long Story short. I was to scared to ask for help (Because I didn't want anyone to kidknap me) So I wandered the Discovery Center for an hour. It was awful. I remember talking to God as I walked around the center, asking him to help me find my family. I remember it so clear to this day.
When I was 9 years old, my mom picked me up from Elementary school early, and I could tell something was wrong. She told me that 3 men broke into my house in the middle of the afternoon. I was terrified. People broke into my house? They didn't steal anything? What did they want? As my mom pulled into our drieway I was even more freaked out. Yellow tape everywhere. Policemen all outside my house. Police Cars all down my street. No one had any answers of why those men broke in. Days passed, and we were allowed back into our house. The men were never found, and that scared me even more. Every day since that day, I am scared to death of break ins. I remember constantly praying that those men broke in the wrong house, and would never come back.
When I was 15 years old I went downtown with some of my friends. We got lost and couldnt find where we parked. Hours passed, and it became very late. We found the area we parked finally, and only had a 10 minute walk back to my friends' car. We were 5 minutes away from getting to our car, when I felt like we should run. Some may say I was crazy, or that I just wanted to run, but knowing what I know, and knew then, I knew it was the spirit. So I panicked and told all my friends that we had to run fast to our car. I took off running (I am sure I looked crazy) but thanksfully my friends sprinted as well..At that moment I didn't know why I was running? I didn't know who I was running from? And I definitely didn't know why God was telling me to run. A minute after we started running, again I felt like I should look to my left. As I turned around and looked to my left, I saw a clearly unstable woman..with a big knife. The kind you see in movies. As I saw this woman, I felt calm. My friends freaked out and cried and could barely run, however I felt extreme comfort knowing I would be safe. We all made it back to the car. Thanks heavens no one was hurt.
When I was 16 years old my mom,brother,grandparents and I moved. Being an insecure, overweight, teen in highschool...is hard. But, I had friends. When I was told we were going to move, I was petrified. Many nights for years laying,having no plans, sad,depressed. I would pray to my Hevanly Father asking him for things. Without prayer I know without a doubt I wouldn'y be as happy here as I am today.
Today..topped everything. I always say my prayers on the way to school in the morning. I find it such a good time to talk to my Heavenly father, and thank him. The last couple mornings I have somehow forgot to pray in the mornings. This morning it hit me. "Ashley pray to be safe on your way to school." I really didn't think anything of it AT ALL. I always pray to be kept safe. Little did I know that that praywe probably saved my life. So I said a way meaningful prayer, and continued on with my drive. 10 minutes or so later on the highway I heard a loud motor coming my way. I was in the far left lane, and saw the car infront of me veer so fast to the small sholder of the road. I looked to my right and I saw a car going SO FAST pull right infront of me. It was awful. So this is what happened. I was driving in the far left lane. A car came off the off ramp(the farthest right lane) and instead of just merging into the lane that he was suposde to go..he totally jerked his car, cut through all 4 lanes and flew right infront of my car. The car infront of me saw the car coming her way moments before me, so she took the side of the road. I couldn't pull to the side or I would hit the car infront of me. I couldn't pull to the right or I would hit the car to my right. So I slammed on my breaks shaking in pure shock. My car like heated up and smoke came out of my car making it so awful to even see during those 5 seconds I was pushing as hard as I could on the breaks. I remember in those 5 seconds I looked and saw the crazy car passing infront of me, and looking behind me and seeing a huge truck centimeters away from rearending me.Hard.
The car flew right past me mabye at most a foot away from my car and hit the side of the sholder and spon?spin?spinned? haha "whatever the word its", anyway the car made a million circles and stopped. The Truck behind me got hit by the car behind him..I was in total shock.
I am so greatful to my Heavenly Father for watching over me. These last couple weeks have been just "differnt" for me. Experiencing emotions I have never felt, dealing with obstacles, trials,new experiences. Sometimes I get so sidetracked with life I forget who/and what matters most. I am so thankful that my Father in Heaven humbles me, and helps show me how precious things are.
..Life is Beautiful..
Your life is Beautiful.
