The Power of Listening: How One Simple Act Kept Us Safe
Years ago, I was preparing my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter for a special day at the movies. It was June, and the weather was beautiful—perfect for spending time together. We were headed to a theater about ten miles away, and I was looking forward to simply enjoying being a mom during my summer break from teaching. As I settled her into the seat beside me, I heard a calm yet firm voice say, "Put her in the back."
At the time, car seat guidelines were based on weight and height, and airbags weren’t as advanced as they are today. Since she met the criteria, my daughter had always sat next to me. We would chat during our drives, and I enjoyed that connection. But the voice persisted. "Put her in the back." I hesitated, reasoning with the voice in my mind, but it grew more insistent: "Cathy, just put her in the back!" Reluctantly, I moved her, hoping she would nap before the movie.
Only three miles into our trip, disaster struck. We were hit by a one-ton pickup pulling a full trailer, and our Toyota 4-Runner flipped into the air and rolled, finally coming to a stop in an empty irrigation ditch. My heart raced as I listened to my daughter’s terrified cries from the backseat. I was scared to turn around, not knowing what I would find. Within moments, a volunteer EMT, who had been plowing his nearby field, rushed to our aid. He carefully pried us from the wreckage just as the ambulance arrived to take us to the hospital.
Incredibly, my daughter and I survived with nothing more than cuts and bruises. The police officer on the scene was in disbelief, remarking that it was a miracle no one had died. Remarkably, the only parts of the car that weren’t totaled were the places we had been sitting.
Looking back at those photos, I’m struck by how many things aligned perfectly that day. We were both wearing seatbelts, driving the speed limit, and the irrigation ditch was dry. The EMT happened to be nearby at the exact moment of the crash, and despite the devastation, we walked away from it. So much could have gone wrong, yet we were safe.
Reflecting on that experience, I am deeply grateful for that voice—the voice that urged me to "put her in the back." At the time, I didn’t question who was speaking, but after the accident, I knew we were being watched over. It felt as if a guardian angel had stepped in to protect us.
This experience has taught me the profound importance of listening to that inner voice—whether we call it intuition, gut instinct, or divine guidance. It may not always be easy to hear or understand, but it carries a wisdom that can guide us through life’s challenges. When we take the time to listen and trust, we open ourselves to a source of support that is always there, gently steering us in the right direction.
