(Photograph by Edwin Redrino)
A motorcycle rider lost control of his bike and skidded in front of our car as we drove along the highway last night. I stepped on the brakes just in time to avoid running over him, but that essential act—that he later claimed saved his life—caused the car behind us to hit us and the next car to consequently hit the car behind us.
Part of the motorcycle went under our car. The biker said he felt the impact when the car behind us crashed into our vehicle, but by some divine miracle he left the scene unscathed. I pulled the hand brake after we were hit the first time so when the car behind us was hit, our car absorbed most of the collision shock and the biker was spared.
I said a prayer in my heart before I got out of the car and was relieved to find out that the biker wasn’t hurt. It was almost traumatic for me to see his image fall in front of us and go under the hood of the car, but it was amazing how peaceful and calm I felt throughout the whole ordeal despite it being my first time to go through such an accident after all these years of driving. Needless to say, it must have also been an equally traumatic experience for all those who were involved—car passengers and drivers alike.
As we tried to shrug off the jitters of the previous night’s accident, we discussed this morning all the positive things that came out of that unwanted incident. How we were reminded that life is fragile and can be taken away in a snap of a finger. That prayer is the best way to help us handle highly stressful situations. That people will respond to us better if we treat them respectfully and kindly. And that there is always a purpose under the heavens why all things happen the way they do—even if they are most inconvenient!
So for us, the accident gave us a reason to celebrate life and friendship even more! And to have a big breakfast at McDonald’s on this beautiful morning that we would’ve otherwise skipped if it had only been a normal day! 🙂
Take care everybody! 🙂 Drive safe!! And have a great week ahead!!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us the experiences of your soul as you go through all the colors of life’s journey. I appreciate the insights you express so well that the reader almost forgets he is the reader and not the writer. Valuing the otherwise small everyday things is really capturing the moments that make life so much fun to live, and appreciate and be grateful for the Creator that graciously allowed us to be here in the first place. Thank you and may God continue to bless you for blessing many with your talents.
Thank you, Elder Guanzon. I know this will be a better day than yesterday and yes, it’s great to be alive and share life’s experiences with those that I hold close to my heart. 🙂
Ate Cherry,
I’m glad you’re ok and nobody got hurt! Good thing you had quick reflexes and was able to step on the brake and pull the handbrake on time. I agree, prayer does really help us stay calm and peaceful through otherwise stressful situations.
We missed you during the ANEC training in Antipolo. We were hoping to see you sana. Di bale, there’s still the Christmas Party to look forward to! Take care.
Thanks, Nini. I also miss you guys. More than you’ll ever know. 🙂
Hi! Ate Che,
Thank God that all of you are safe. It is really a good thing that you pulled your hand break to avoid more impact to the biker.
Always pray before you start your engine for divine protection and guidance.
We missed you during the ANEC training.
RED
Thanks, Red! I missed you too! 🙂
The Lord is so good! I thank Him that no one is hurt in the accident and that you maintain your composure, with quick reflexes. And I thank Him more for having someone like you who is sharing spiritual insights of what had happened which inspire and lift us.
I can relate to your experience, though yours is much complicated. While driving very very slow on our way to home after Church services, I hit a 3-year old girl that I did not see because she fell from running and she was lying on the street when I came. The blessing – the girl was spared from broken bones as I had expected, visualizing the right tire rolled partially to her small foot. She only got scratches and wounds. We drove her, together with her family, to the nearest hospital and was treated well. This happened only a few months ago.
I thank God that He is just a prayer away. My children also prayed. Henry did while he was attending his Church assignments. In my solitude, my heart was full of pleadings for the girl’s recovery, and inspiration to handle the situation properly and gratitude that no the girl had no serious injuries.
Truly the Lord wants us to learn from every details that are happening to us. Yes, you’re right – that life is fragile and we need to live life to the fullest because it can be taken away from us even at a snap of a finger; that prayer is needful and powerful.
Someone said:
Life is fragile; handle it with prayer!
Thanks Cherry for sharing! Love you.
Thanks for sharing your experience too, Vanj. I’m grateful for friends such as you who make life easier to bear and whose examples make me want to live my life the best way I can. Love you, too! 🙂 hugs and kisses.
Cherry,
Good – all of you in the car are safe and unhurt by that accident. Your not driving fast so the car’s brake still strong enough to hold the tires on the road and prevent it from crashing head collision with the skidding motorbike. The sad part there is that the vehicles following you may be speeding as it could no longer avoid the impact so with the others. This often happened in a highway and I’ve seen it on TV like the World’s amazing video and Discovery Channel.
I could recalled my nissan california when my father drove it in a conventional manner. He usually stay close distance to the car ahead of him so that no other vehicle can overtake and by pass him. However, the front car manage to elude the big block of cement fragment on the road but as he try to turn the wheel on the side to avoid hitting it “its too late”. Brannnnng!!!! the engine block spilled oil.
Another terrible accident is I was beside the bus driver’s seat when I saw a biker approaching us looking at the back and the moment he looks forward he was already occupying the our lane and “it’s too late”to maneuver his speedy bike that it crashes underneath the bus grinding his bike and limb crackkkk!!!!
One more incident is when I was with my former co-employees in the company vehicle bound to our plant in Mariveles, Bataan. The driver was dizzy that he almost slept that causes the car to swerve on the other side and collided head to head with a ten wheeler dump truck. There are two persons both are priests thrown from the accordion like car . The first one is an ex-seminarian sitting beside the driver who dived crashing the front window and the tractor head. He did not survived after 2 weeks comatose. The other one is me sitting at the back of the driver and thrown outside the side back crampled door. I still managed to stand and walk according to bystanders with my scriptures. I did not know it I thought my life was over but I heard from the Lord “thou shalt live”.
The question here is who really controls our life ?
Regards,
Dan
Thanks for sharing, Bro. Mendoza.
Hello Cherry,
I thank the Lord for blessing you with alertness, presence of mind and quick reflexes as you went through that unavoidable car accident. Am not actually surprised if you and your companions in your car were safe and unharmed, simply because you are a choiced daughter of our Heavenly Father, always humbly submitting yourself before Him in earnest prayers. But just the same, be very careful as you drive down the highway because we never know when accidents do happen.
Take good care always and God bless/watch over you guys.
Thanks, Jun. Much appreciated.
Hi kirsch,
I hope you all underwent a medical check up after the accident coz that may have an impact on your spinal cords sometimes you feel that only after many days . ask your dad about it. take care yes every day in our life
is a new day and be prepared for it . regards tita aida
Vielen dank, Tita Aida.
Sis. Cherry,
“There is a law irrevocably decreed in Heaven….upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessings from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
Can you imagine what could have happened if you were not obedient to our Heavenly Father.
On the lighter note….just drink lots of water…that will wash away the trauma, the incident caused.
It warmed my heart to read your comment, President Santillan. Thank you very much.
Hi Cherry,
So glad & comforting to know that all is well with you & ur family after that incident. Our thoughts are always with you despite the distance which separates us. Ingat & continue to enjoy life’s journey.
Regards,
Pam
Thanks, Pam. We miss you and your family.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I can just imagine what must have been to go through that. I have had accidents before and I can tell you how it can shake you physically and spiritually as well. I am real glad to have the gospel of Jesus Christ when we can understand more of what we go through in this life that we can actually have more positive attitude in the way we approach things even if it will be inconvenient in our lives or something that we don’t want to go through. Well, gald to hear that all is well with you and the rest. You take care and God bless you always.
Thanks, Cynthia. God bless you and your family as well. 🙂
Cherry,
Sometimes we take our family and friends and our life for granted until something like this happens.
I was thinking about how many people out there you have touched and blessed because you lived. I would like to take this moment to tell you how much I appreciate the thoughts, spirit and experiences that you share to others through your column Riches of Eternity. They are spiritually uplifting.
I hope to be able to see you again when the Cebu Temple will be dedicated. I will come and visit with you then.
Love, Zenny
That’s really nice to hear, Sister Miller. I appreciate your kind words. I’d love to meet with you when you come visit for the temple dedication. Let me know when you are coming, okay? Thanks!
As I read your story , nangilabutan ako , Cherry , but I really trust that you will be able to do things fast to preserve your lives and first and foremost I know you are always guided by the Holy Spirit , this one thing we really have to treasure that He is always with us and of course when you have the prayer at any unusual moment in our lives you open the windows of Heaven right there in an instant , so nothing more serious happend that they and I am soo happy you all of you are safe . I know how you really felt that time , but one thing we never neglect to thank God for all His love and cares for us . I love you Cherry keep safe and close to Him everymoment of our lives . Mommy Marcie
Thanks, Mommy Marci. I’m also grateful that nothing serious happened. The bumper is slowly getting repaired and will soon get back to its original shape! 🙂
good morning
sori, i had my 2 days training last week so i was not able to open my email and read messages. i felt bad it happened to you but i am thankful that i saw you yesterday and you are ok.
whom are you with when the incident happened?
Thanks, Sis. Marantal. I’m glad we got out of that situation unharmed. 🙂
Thanks Cherry for sharing your thoughts and insights on life. Your perspectives reflect the everyday challenges & blessings we have as we strive to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Have a great day!!!
Thanks for your kind words, Philip. Much appreciated. 🙂