23 years ago, I caused an accident.
My car rear-ended a car, and that car hit a car, and that car hit a car.
(Don’t check your hair in the mirror while driving, kids.)
That’s 4 cars if you’re counting.
Fortunately, no one got injured.
Unfortunately, the first car I hit was my sister’s car.
We were both in college. I was 19, my sister was 21.
We called Mom and Dad.
I don’t remember much about that accident, but I do remember what happened after the phone call.
Mom and Dad dropped everything and drove over 2 hours to be with us.
They gave us hugs.
They took us out to dinner.
They gave us the only car they had so my sister and I had a way to get around that summer.
There were no lectures.
No accusations.
Just love.
I was embarrassed, sure, but I never felt shame.
There are some things we simply can’t understand when we’re kids. At 21 and 19, my sister and I had no idea the sacrifices Mom and Dad made that day for us.
But now that we’re older, we get it.
They gave us their only car to drive. Growing up, we never had much money, so this had to have been a major sacrifice.
My mom buried her mom that same summer.
Farming prices were awful.
Only now do I truly understand the stress they must have felt that season.
And yet, they simply showed up and loved us through it all, no strings attached.
I realize that’s a gift not all kids are given, and I just want to say thanks.
Here’s to the parents who love their kids through it all. Because of your love, we’re able to pass down the same love to our kids….and that’s how we change the world.❤
-Leslie Means