Surviving a Bus Crash

It was a hot day in June in 2008, The youth group from Centenary was feeling great! Driving to church camp in Florida took much of the day, Most of the students were sleeping with little to say. What just happened and where am I now? I am face to face with the gas pedal and I do not know how. The bus was in Alabama, with only one hour more, Now the pain had set in, and I was on a hot, burning floor. The frantic reaction definitely set a scary tone, There was yelling, crying, screaming, yet I felt so alone. Crawling out through the windows, many students were in tears; I just sat on the smoky bus floor, it seemed like for years. Time moved so slowly, the bus evacuated except for three, And I began to question, why was this happening to me? I wish I had been lucky enough to be one to crawl out, But as my foot bled profusely, I was filled with much doubt. Good Samaritans stopped to help on this rainy, busy road, As the details of this accident began to unfold. A mother of two sons, crossed over into our lane, Our bus driver did all that he could to refrain. The crash brought many injuries to myself and to others, All I could think about was, I wanted my mother. The ambulances came quickly; a stranger whisked me away. In shock at the hospital, I wondered how long would I stay? I could hear the doctor speaking, explaining how my surgery would take place, I also knew it was serious, because of the fast pace. Two broken vertebrae and the ball of my foot cut off too, Until my parents drove from Kentucky, I just had to get through. The surgery went smoothly, youth leaders help the time pass, My parents finally arrived; I could see them at last. My mom held me tightly as I shared all my fears, Then we both praised God as we burst into tears! The accident changed me, many things are now clear, I appreciate each day and know why I’m here. I give God the glory, I am thankful for my life, I am stronger because of my pain and my strife. I learned I cannot measure my life by how long I live, That it is easy to take, more rewarding to give. Service to others is one of the most important aspects to me; Living through this trauma has helped me to see. Evan Esar said, “You can’t do anything about your life’s length, But you can do something about its width and its depth.” I try not to worry about things I cannot control, Living each day to the fullest is now my life’s goal.