Eppik Family

Daddy's Girls: Road Reflectors
Dusk had faded into nightfall.  The stretch of road was short yet winding as we made our way back to the highway from the church.  Abby and I were on our way home from a Monday night program when she asked, "What are those lights on the road?"  

The road before us was curvey.  Thick double lines meandered ahead of us.  From amidst this imposing stretch of fresh yellow paint came some curious, bright orange "lights" shooting their gaze our direction as we wound our way.  Being observant and quite curious, Abby was captivated.  "What are those lights, Daddy?"  

"What lights, Sweetheart?"

"Those lights on the road," she said very matter-of-factly as though I should know what she was talking about.

"Those are reflectors," I said. "They reflect light and help us see where the boundaries are on the road."  

With quick deduction, Abby continued, "That way people won't get hurt so much".

"That's right.  They serve as boundaries so that people won't get hurt.  They keep people from crossing over into the path of other cars so they don't crash.  Boundaries are important aren't they?"  

"Yeah."  

End of conversation.  Seed sown.  Reference point established.  Yet another analogy for discussing the importance of logical, loving limits in life.  

I filed this new take with some of the others: the banks of a river, portion control in eating, out-of-bounds markers in sports.  And I thanked God for this simple teaching moment that connected ever so practically with my child.  We just can't plan these things!