It is rainy and temperatures are forecasted to drop here all day. Every day is a new weather adventure here in the Midwest!
Our two oldest grandsons play soccer on a set of fields in their hometown that are great as far as the fields go, but someone did not plan the parking lot well for crowded practice and game days.
They double up on start and end times and the narrow and pitted gravel lanes extend quite a long distance with parking on either side of the entrance and exit paths.
The way out of the complex means a loooooonnnnnngggggg wait to turn left and many cars trying to turn right as well and the gridlock struggle is real.
Last Thursday evening, I picked up Graham from practice and was ready to get him to his home and then head home myself.
We sat in the car for quite some time waiting for some kind soul to let us pull out into the line of cars making their way out of the parking lot.
True to my Lochner genetics, I began verbalizing my frustration and talking to the other driver’s as if they could hear me. Finally, someone slowed and motioned for me to pull out. I waved my thank you numerous times and got in the procession.
We were parked quite deep in the lot and so as we rolled along, we passed many other cars waiting to be freed from their parking place. However, I was so busy focusing on the tail lights ahead of me that I was missing seeing the ones who were fervently peering for an opening to pull out.
I would be right on the front of a car before I saw the driver in place and their wheels slowly inching forward.
As this happened repeatedly, I felt such conviction for my criticism of others who had seemed so uncaring. It’s possible I may have said several times during our waiting period how everyone was in such a hurry and couldn’t they help a sister out???
I said to Graham how I seemed to be the one now who was not leaving an opening for another car to pull out and from the back seat came the gentle reply…”Lola, you have to treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Ouch.
I realized that in order to let some other cars join the exit line, I would need to be proactive to not be so eager to escape the madness. I would have to intentionally move slowly so that I would be ready to stop and let someone out. I needed to think more of them and less of me.
It is a good lesson, isn’t it?
In all of life.
It is so easy to see when we are being wronged and so difficult to notice the plight of others once we are delivered.
To remember how it felt to be in certain circumstances and to treat others how we would have wanted to be treated.
As a bonus lesson, Graham hears that a lot from his parents. He may not always live it at age 8 (goodness knows his Lola is still learning the lesson in her 60’s) but they are sowing seeds of truth and those seeds are taking root.
Our words and our actions matter. We all have a sphere of influence…sow truth into your sphere.
