Abduction

I've been trying to decide whether or not to post this, and I've decided that it's too important to let it go untold. While I have grown accustomed to seeing news reports about children being abducted, I never think about the possibility that it could happen close to home. Those stories always seem so far removed from my daily life that I tend to gloss over them. It's easier that way, isn't it?

When Snow White was very small she used to wander off from time to time. I remember telling her once that she HAD to stay with me or a bad person would take her away and hurt her. She was scared, and from that point on she held my hand when we were out in public. As she has gotten older, I have continued to remind her of the dangers that may be lurking. I've gotten the obligatory teenage eye-roll more than once for reminding her for the hundredth time that she should never go to the mall alone, or that she should park in a well-lit area after dark. You get the idea.

I received a phone call from Snow White yesterday morning. She was crying, and bordering on hysteria. She had just been informed that one of her childhood friends had been abducted the night before. In an instant, all of my warnings became a horrible reality for my daughter.

To make matters worse, her friend was abducted from her own church parking lot. Yes, you read that correctly. The psycho took her from a CHURCH PARKING LOT!! I recognize the fact that we live in a mad, mad world right now, but I cannot fathom NOT feeling safe at church. Are we really that far gone?

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Snow White's friend is home safe. I'm not so sure about the sound part. Time will tell. Thank the good Lord she did not end up a mere statistic.

Despite the outcome, I have had cold chills ever since I received that call. We can't always be there to protect our children, but we CAN teach them to be more cautious. After a LONG conversation last night, I believe that my daughter will now be a lot more attentive to her surroundings. We also plan to take a self-defense class the next time it's offered at our gym.

PLEASE talk to your children over and over and over and over about stranger danger and about paying attention to their surroundings at ALL TIMES! Make this your topic of conversation over dinner tonight. I don't care how old we are, we can always use a gentle reminder to be careful out there in that cold, cruel world.