One very frightening sight on our roads is to see grown- ups walking with their children on the outer side. The little child tugs and pulls and skips and hops and sometimes even breaks loose from his or her father’s or mother’s hand and that could spell disaster as the child walking on the outer side is a hair’s breath away from death or danger.
Foolish parents, you may say but many, many of us do just that without thinking.
How often I have stopped my car and yelled at a parent whose little one oblivious to the danger so very close by, has nearly thrown herself sidewise at some vehicle going by.
Parents shouldn’t be doing that.
Careful people don’t do that either, whether it’s their child or wife or aged parent who needs to be protected from the risks of perilous road. I have seen tall son guarding tiny mother or daughter shielding feeble father.
I am sure it must be a wonderful feeling to know that someone is there safeguarding you from the threats so near by. But how does the child feel when he sees a grown up standing between him and the road?
Watch him.
The little fellow tries to get to the dangerous portion. The little one is fascinated by the traffic, by the noise, by the hustle and bustle of fast cars, moving crowds and busy people. The child isn’t too happy that mother or father is keeping him away from the ‘wonderful’ happenings of the outside world.
How like that child we sometimes are.
Sometimes when we are being sheltered from the risks outside we start growing sullen and resentful.
“My freedom is being curtailed!” cries the teenager to her father.
“Don’t you trust me?” shouts a philandering husband.
“Its just innocent fun,” says a wife, late from an office party.
“What’s a little sugar in my tea!,” exclaims a diabetic.
“Innocent excitement!” cries a heart patient.
How we all love to get away from walking on the inner side. It’s more fun on the outer side isn’t it?
We call it all sorts of names; restrictions, limits, constraints, control, curbs, regulations, rules, conditions, stipulations, etc.
How we would love to be like that little child and run away from authoritative figure that stands like policeman between us and freedom.
Who stands next to you right now?
Is it your son? Your husband? Your daughter in law? Your wife?
Before you break away and run, look again at that little child as he walks along the road. Look beyond the one who walks alongside and watch the horrors and terrors that the world offers, then look up at the face that stands tall besides you and smile a smile of thanks.
It might be a loving son or daughter a father or mother, or is it the face of God you see, walking alongside you, keeping you safe on the inner side?
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Thank you so much Bob! It is always God who in the face of our near and loved ones keeping us safe! God bless you more for reminding us once more about His love and care, and also for the Insightful article.
Very true Bobby, most of our parents (not when with grand parents) do not bother about their child while walking risking their child and themselves.
Reckless bikers. Speeding cars, Bikes coming from wrong side are terrible. Only God Save us .
Thank you Shivaranjan. Yes, so true about reckless bikers and speeding cars!
God cares for us so much that He’s always walking with us securing us from all harm and danger. A chorus comes to mind;Walking with Jesus, walking all the way, walking everyday………walking with Jesus along.
Very well said Bobby. Sometimes rules, regulations,controls etc appear to stifle our freedom but they are actually meant for our safety and well being and we need to accept them. The classic example is helmet which is meant to protect the biker. But most bikers resent it and hang it on the bike handle to wear it only when they see a cop around !!
Aww I used to think that it’s only me who noticed and shouted at such careless and unmindful parents.i like the way you have beautified the child’s urge to say good riddance to the ‘feeble’ safeguard
Thank you Shama!
Hi Bob,
I liked your thought of writing about this. One thing I have always noticed and cared about is pedestrians facing the traffic choose to walk on the inside,thereby risking the other to walk alongside the moving traffic.
It is so annoying and insensitive.
Thank you Munira.