Last week my son was at a friend’s house for the afternoon. Now both of them are 7ish so they are young, mostly innocent and decent kids (I think so at least).
This was the first time Bradyen had been to this friend’s house and at some point in the afternoon, they decided to go look at a couple of forts in the woods. Sounds like a good boy thing to do to me.
I’m not sure about the friend but Brayden doesn’t exactly come from a long line of outdoorsy types. I mean, we love being outside, love the water but we are not boyscouts, hunters, backpackers, mountain climbers, spelunkers, deep sea fishermen, Iiditarod-ites…you get the picture.
So when Brayden and his friend got turned around and subsequently lost in the woods, he could not look at the sun and determine the right direction to go nor did he have any matches to light a fire to send up smoke signals. I already told you why he couldn’t rub sticks together to make fire.
What to do then? Run. Like any good man, go fast so that even if you are lost, you get there in a hurry. Some where in that process Brayden kissed a tree and cut his chin. 
They finally made it out of the woods and into a subdivision. But not the one where this friend lived.
Now here is the dilemma: You are lost, confused, scared, shedding a few tears…and 7. You are not supposed to talk to strangers or get in strange cars. But you are lost.
Brayden and his friend found someone to ask for help but get this: This guy sent two 7 years olds on their way without helping them! Incredible. That still makes me angry. The next guy was much more helpful though he had to figure out directions from a 7 year old’s crazy directions. He took them home. In his truck.
I was thankful that they got home. I really was. But I freaked a little when I heard Brayden say they got in this guy’s truck.
This story has a good ending: both boys got home safe and sound. It was an adventure that neither will forget.
While it’s unlikely the story would have ended any other way, we are very aware that it is not the only possible outcome.
OH MY GOODNESS! What did Melissa say?????
Freaked a little. We both did. But they kept their cool enough to go get help so we are thankful for that. Now to coach Brayden on calling us no matter what before taking a ride with someone…
That’s pretty scary. I’m glad they’re safe.
being a parent now, the actuality of a few aspects of that story scare the crap out of me.
i’m glad Brayden and his friend both got home safely.
Yeah…safety…the older the kids get, the more we have to trust God. It’s hard on my brain to know that I can’t protect them all the time. God doesn’t make mistakes so I’ll have to trust him to not start making mistakes with my kids.