*** Warning **** Some pictures are graphic and may be disturbing .
Owl from Riley on my rearview mirror. It always reminds me to slow down
Last night I watched Erin Brockovich which was another one of Alexis’ favorites when she was younger. She liked older movies: Practical Magic, Cast Away, Erin Brockovich, and Where the Heart Is? As I watched it I just thought of her and how she told me when she got older she wanted to help people like Erin Brockovich did or she always said she wanted to be like the mom on “Judging Amy” which was a CPS worker. These were sweet memories of her. Later I was scrolling thorugh Facebook and I read a sad story about a mother and daughter killed by a drunk driver , seeing the aftermath of the wreck and the mangled cars made an impact as the ending of the story begged “Don’t drink and drive” .
My greatest hope has been for good to come from Alexis’ death both spiritually and practically so I want to share some things and beg you to slow down. Slow down in every area of your life. Like the old saying or song says “Slow down and smell the roses” How appropriate for my Alexis Rose.
Speed was a major factor in her death. The fact that it was raining and the roads were slick contributed as well. The Bible is God’s Living Word and I believe it with my whole heart and soul so I know that before time began HE knew she would die that day (Psalm 139 : 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.) But HE didn’t want that , HIS heart breaks as ours does when we lose a loved one tragically but we live in a fallen world and bad stuff happens as a result of that but we can AND SHOULD learn from the bad things that happen just like we learn from the Bible (Romans 15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled.).
So what I have learned is to slow down and appreciate the things that really matter trying not to get caught up in the stuff that doesn’t . And not only to slow down figuratively but to literally slow down, now if I am late I am late. When I start to panic because I am running behind and put my pedal to the metal these pictures come to my mind and I immediately slow down.
Not only do I picture the mangled car but I see her shoe, her phone, her purse, and her GPS that guided her everywhere because she was so directionally challenged.
And I think of those who depend on me now so I slow down because I don’t want to take a chance that isn’t worth it. That is what I have learned from Alexis Rose Washington’s death and I hope you will too. Please slow down you aren’t invincible. I remember someone writing after Alexis died “ This shouldn’t happen to you . You were so strong and overcame everything. You were Alexis (____fill inthe blank ____) Washington” But it did happen to her , she was not invincible and her life was gone in a flash, in a second. One second she was here the next gone . PLEASE SLOW DOWN IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!!!
