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As a military retiree, my wife and I sometimes stay in base hotels when we travel around the country. Our son-in-law was being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, and we had arranged to stay at Eglin Air Force Base for a couple of nights.
We had been driving for six or eight hours, and were nearing our destination. I have long since forgotten the name of the little town a few miles outside the base gate. But as I sat on the passenger side of our vehicle, I noticed a young lady walking along the sidewalk in our direction.
And as our paths intersected, I realized she was sobbing profusely.
In the few seconds prior to our car passing her location, I could see the tears coursing down her cheeks, and the resulting movement of her shoulders. Now, we passed the twenty-something year old woman, and continued north towards Eglin AFB.
And while I don't recall my immediate thoughts, I could not have helped thinking,
"Perhaps we should pull over, and ask if there is anything we can do for her."
At least, in retrospect we should have done so.
Was her husband injured on the job? Did her mother die? Was she terminated from her job?
I often think of "Laura." I often wonder why she was crying. I often pray for her.
I think we all have regrets which we are apt to "pet like a dog." Our failure to stop, and spend a few minutes with this deserving woman is one of my two or three major regrets in life. However, as a counselor I often tell my clients,
"There are no time machines. You can't go back."
All I can do is continue to pray for this dear lady, and decide in advance not to make a similar mistake in the future.
by Bill McDonald, PhD
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