Death on the Road

Reading the news today we all are heartsick about this accident in Hermon. Two young boys, a 16 year old and a 14 year old, stepbrothers, killed in a car crash last night. All of these accidents that have been occuring all too frequently tear you apart as a parent.

In this house we have a 16 year old and a 14 year old. Both boys, stepbrothers. It is, as my wife said, too close too home.

While it is not our home, it is someone's home that has been torn apart today. Two boys, two parents, other parents...the recriminations yet to come. In the end nothing matters except two young lives are ended.

What happens to a young man who gets his license. I was one once and I can attest that I did not drive that smart. I am sure there were several times when God kept me safe from hurting myself or someone else. Why did he steady the wheel for me and not for these young man in Hermon. Who knows. How can we know.

So in light of this my wife and I talk. We talk about how to impress upon our young men that this is life and death. The safest thing is to not let them drive. It was my idea not to let him drive until he was seventeen. However that did not last. I hope I do not rue that decision.

My son announced that he had a soccer banquet at six. He told us at 5:15 which, for him, was ahead of schedule. To make it more interesting he could not find his dress pants. As he headed out the door, in his mind, behind schedule, I called him back and told him that he was not late and not to speed. To be careful. He smiled and said of course Dad.

I wonder if those young men said the same thing to their parents on the way out last night.