By: Brenda Wilkerson
Coming to a regular stop, there was the gaping absence of all four children from two families. Very rarely is this stop without at least one kid. I pulled the brake and waited my usual amount of time before moving on. As I glimpsed up on the porch, I saw it. A dog. A German shorthair sat happily on the porch looking around for friends. As I looked closer, I saw the backpacks lined on the porch beside the dog. As I started putting the pieces together, I finally realized the kids were afraid and waiting inside until the dog went away. As a driver, there wasn’t much I could do.
Suddenly a door cracked open and very slowly a crutch poked out toward the dog trying to scare it away. I giggled as I witnessed a comedy show in real time. A big sister braved coming out to coax the dog away from the porch so the kids could get on the bus. The tiny sister made a run for the bus door her eyes wide open in terror with the dog happily bounding behind her. As she screeched up the steps, I had to lean down and put my hand in the dog’s face to keep the happy pup from climbing aboard. Confused, the pup soon realized this wasn’t a place for him.
Strategically, big brother snuck around in the confusion to get in the bus doors before I had to quickly close the doors before happy pup tried entering again. As far as the other two held doggy-hostage inside, I decided to continue on my route, which would eventually loop back around and pass that way again. Sure enough, looping back around, the other two children were happy but cautiously looking around, waiting for the big yellow bus. With the pup nowhere in sight, they ran to join the rest of us safely tucked inside our big yellow friend.
As we all continue on this life‘s journey, may we all learn from this heartwarming story by using whatever means, even a crutch and some additional time, to reach your goals and fulfilling the purpose of your life.
Heavenly Father, may we learn from these little ones who show us how to persevere, wait patiently, do hard things and do them scared, and never giving up. We know you love us and we deeply desire your grace and direction. Amen.
~Brenda Wilkerson
