By: Brenda Wilkerson
The last two days before Christmas break, a majority of the high-school students are exempt from exams, so there are only a handful of students that ride the bus. Today was no different. With a total of eight high-school kids, the lead driver offered to take on the rest of the kids to fill her bus so the other drivers didn’t have to wait in line. With several radio responses of Thank you, 10-4, and Merry Christmas, we unloaded our few kids and headed on our way. Freedom!
A few moments later, I glanced up in my big rearview mirror and saw one petite white shoe poking out from the side of a back seat. I knew exactly who it was, and her head popped up when I called her name. Sure enough, she didn’t hear the plan. So there I was. Almost free to leave early and now I have one student. My brain tried several different scenarios where I could drop her off or have her run to another bus. I felt a warm presence as if God put his hand on my hurried heart and nudged me to slow down and listen. So I was all in. I took my one student and lined up with the rest of the buses waiting a good 10 to 15 minutes before the school opened its doors. My mind briefly acknowledged that God‘s ways are better, and I settled in to the situation.
Chatting with this young lady, I tried to make her feel more comfortable by kidding her about me being her personal limo when she tried to apologize, again. Those 10 minutes unfolded an opportunity that still leaves me overwhelmed. She asked me if I remembered when she was out for a whole week several weeks ago. I told her I did, and in fact, I had reached out to see if she was okay. She said, “I was in the mental hospital.” Without flinching on the outside, I was scrambling on the inside. She continued, “I tried to commit suicide.”
I took a deep breath with a mighty prayer, begging God for His wisdom of what to say next. I can’t even remember the questions, the comments, or the exact words of encouragement I shared. I was able to pray with her, with her permission, and lift her up to the Heavenly Father in her place of pain. I looked her straight in her eyes and told her I loved her and was incredibly proud of her endurance to survive through hard things! She smiled big and turned to take those three steps off the bus. I could barely see as I pulled away. I was completely humbled to tears, realizing that listening to God‘s still small voice and His gentle promptings can lead us to His divine appointments. I briefly felt the heaviness of the “What if.” What if I had pushed through the inconvenience and figured out a way to get her on another bus in time? I shook that thought out of my head and realized my obedience to His prompting allowed me to be His hands, His feet, and His wheels to this precious girl, His precious girl.
Now that the busy, sometimes stressful holidays are in our “rearview mirror,” please take a breath. Stop the rush. Look around. Beg God to show you who desperately needs His love and encouragement to not only survive another day but to thrive within the love of Jesus.
By: Brenda Wilkerson
