Safety | one_local

I had safety patrol duty way back in 5th grade at school in Charlottesville, VA. I can still recall the bright yellow strap that went around my waist and overtop my shoulder. Attached to the shoulder strap was pinned the safety patrol badge.

I was official, and took my duty seriously. My duty was to see to it fellow students safely crossed the road in front of the small school in the morning. Students were too busy laughing and talking to pay attention, so it was my job to do that for them.

Each week a different student was assigned as safety patrol. In a way, we shared the load of safety for one another. Know something interesting? A herd of horses do the same thing. Look-out horses are posted around the herd during resting hours of the day and night. This way, the rest of the herd can rest. They too take turns. Gods creation amazes me. How He has cared for us.

Thinking about my safety patrol duty causes me to wonder. Did our teachers at that time have a purpose in assigning students to safety patrol? Were they knowingly teaching us in this subtle way to have a caring attitude toward our fellow student?

I may never know the answer to these questions, but I do believe it had an impact on me in regards to others. After all, Jesus instructs us to care for our fellow man. That is exactly what they were demonstrating to us. I am grateful.

Today is an official “feel sorry for myself” kind of day. I shall be brief. However, I do implore you to take the small, important pieces of advice I offer this pretty summer morning here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

I have had three mishaps in the past three weeks. July 7th, I slipped in a hotel tub while getting out. Took a stiff hit to my head and backside. Know the worst of it all? I even looked at that rubber bath mat that I should have put down before getting in. Use it!

Last week my sweet bike decided to buck me off right onto the pavement. Good grief, and they say a horse has a mind of its’ own! Yeah? Well, so does a bike.

However, the mishap this early morning at 2 a.m. was the straw that broke the camels’ back. I tripped hard over our dog at that dark hour. I never have seen her sleeping in that spot. The right side of my face slammed firmly with the edge of the door jam, and I landed with a hard thump on the tile flooring. This one really hurt.

With a grateful heart and needed help, my husband and daughter took excellent care of me. I do not look too bad this morning, though the both of them are calling me Scarface! A merry heart does good like medicine. Hey! They are trying to make me feel better. It worked.

So the painful lesson learned? Use a nightlight! Here is a photo of one I purchased long ago while visiting my twinster in Colorado. It has a new home here in our bedroom area. Now we will be able to see where the dogs and cats are peacefully sleeping. Or at least trying to sans the crazy humans that have to get up in wee hours of the morning.

Sweet dreams.