Our lives can change in just a brief instant. Sometimes for the better and sometimes, for the worst. It can happen so suddenly.
Yesterday, Henry and I were shopping at Target. The new store, up by the speedway, has its checkout lanes RIGHT by the exit doors. I was at the check out lane, chatting with the cashier. Henry was right next to me. Right next to my legs. Then, he was gone. He was just there! I didn’t panic at first. I called his name. No answer. I looked around the corner at the Dollar Spot. He wasn’t there either. Then it started. The FEAR! The PANIC! I yelled his name, HENRY!. Tears came to my eyes. The employees instantly starting helping me. What was wearing? What does he look like? How old is he? I was franticly searching for him, in Starbucks, and outside. No Henry. My mind starts to think, “someone grabbed him”. He went outside and someone grabbed him. That’s when I fell apart. The thought of never holding him again.
The employees are just about ready to shut down the doors for code ADAM when I hear it. The little voice. ”Mom. Mom, I in here.” The speedway store has a family bathroom, right up by Customer Service. We have been potty training for several weeks and nature had called. I found him in the bathroom, pants down, trying to climb on the potty. I grabbed him up and held him so tight. He could tell something was wrong, but, didn’t quite understand. I politely told him next he needed to go, please tell me so I could go with him. I was overcome with so many emotions. The fact that I had my baby. He was okay. No one had taken him. No one had hurt him. He was fine. And, he had gone to the potty all by himself.
I was lucky yesterday. My story has a happy ending. But I know not all stories do. I’m so thankful to God for watching over Henry. I guess I can only hope and pray that he will forever be safe, but, I know in life, there are no guarantees.
Pretend play in not my strong point. Playing cars, dinosaurs, action figures, etc, etc. But, I think today Transformers are calling my name.
The photo is from last night. We enjoyed ice cream cones together on a summers night.
I am so blessed!
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Yeah, I’m so excited. My new website is up and running. Here’s the link