Girl Interrupted
I remember the first time when the direction of my life took a sharp turn, I had no idea how to process it! I mean, the shift was sudden, without warning, and fiercely intimidating. I became a ‘girl interrupted’ and I can’t say I managed the emotions behind that very well. Nevertheless ‘girl interrupted’ persisted. Like, what’s a ‘girl interrupted’ to do?
Sitting in the airport of Amarillo, Texas I was anxious to board the plane to get to my home, my permanent home. It was a difficult situation we lived in, but my gracious husband supported all of my hopes and dreams. The latest was pursuing becoming a television news anchor and reporter, a very fast-paced profession!
My first job landed me in Amarillo but our home was in a suburb of Dallas. So, every Friday after my shows I headed to the airport to board a plane that would take me to Dallas. Every Sunday night or sometimes Monday mornings, I boarded another plane that would take me back to Amarillo. Sometimes, quite infrequently, he was the one boarding the planes from Dallas to Amarillo and back to Dallas. Of course, when he told the story, he was the one doing most of the traveling to see me in Amarillo. You don’t want to know how long we did that and I’ll never tell!
Normally, sitting at the gate waiting to board, I fancied catching up on my novel reading or researching the next big story in Amarillo. This time reading won out. But diverting my attention was the most beautiful family; a father, a mother, and two kids, a boy and a girl. The boy looked to be about 12 years old, the girl closer to seven. She clung to her mom’s arm, obviously distraught, crying the biggest tears flowing down those sweet cheeks. Then she put her arms around her mother’s waist and looking up into her face said, “I don’t want you to go. Mommy, I wish you didn’t have to go!”
My heart sank. Why was this lady leaving her family? I felt intrusive, injecting myself, and judgment, into a family’s private moment. The mom’s disappointment shone on her face, gathering the little one into the confines of her arms. She said, “Remember, it’s only for a short time we will do this for my job. And I will always come back the next week.” The little girl pouted and buried her face in her mother’s waist, sobbing.
I thought to myself, ‘I wish someone loved me that way!’ You know, the way a kid loves a mother or father; with every part of them. The kind of love that is sure and dependable. At that point, God must have said, “Good!” Because a month later I found out I was 3 months pregnant! Yep! This girl was interrupted!
So, I often reflect on the moment my life changed for love. It was so long ago I tried to recall what I was feeling at the time. Was I happy? Grateful? Scared? Did I feel ready? When your life is interrupted for whatever reason, how will you react?
