My daughter who is a junior in high school asked me about a week ago if she could go to a concert with some of her good friends. I continued to ask many questions about what type of music would be played to what type of environment she would be in. She told me she was not sure and would ask her friends who had been before.
Shaniah did ask her friends, and I even talked with them both about it. After what they said I felt that this should be okay for her to go to. However, I have to admit as the concert grew closer I felt more uneasy about it. In fact, I took her and her friend shopping today and asked even more questions about the concert even to the point that my daughter was not happy with me and telling me I was too over-protective and to quit asking too many silly questions.
Well as night came and my daughter was getting ready for the concert I told her that she had to be home by her curfew. She told me she would be and she quickly hugged me goodbye and tried to rush out the door. In the door way I grabbed her by the shoulders and felt the strongest feeling to say to her, "Shaniah if at any time you don't feel comfortable or things are not as you expected them to be, please call me and I will come get you, NO questions asked"! After I said this I felt relieved and just prayed that my daughter would make good decisions and that they would be safe.
I was just settling down into my bed with my pajamas on when I got a text from her, it was about 10 minutes into the concert. All it said was, "Will you please come get me?" I quickly and quietly tried not to panic as I called her to see if she was okay. As she picked up, I was so relieved that she was okay. I asked what had happened and all she said was that she had a very bad feeling about it and just wanted to come home. She told me she was in the lobby of the place and would wait for me there. I asked what her friends were doing and she told me they were staying at the concert.
I swear I could not get out of the house fast enough and my hubby came with. We were flying down the freeway as I felt as if I was in slow motion trying to get to my little girl before anything bad happened. I prayed hard for her protection and was so grateful when we finally were able to have her in our possession again.
As we talk to her on the way home she explained that is wasn't the music that was bad, but instead it was the environment. She told us there was security all over but that they weren't doing anything about the people smoking and exhaling drugs of all kinds. She told us she could barely breathe and was not going to be in that type of environment. She told her friends she was leaving and walked out. They followed her and stayed with her in the lobby until we got there. She told us that she was very scared the entire time and even had tears in her eyes when she was walking out of the place.
On the drive home I felt such a gratitude for her safety and protection but also for her willingness to stand up for something even if that meant she had to stand alone. I know it was not easy for her to leave her friends and face begin ridiculed by them. She has such a strong spirt and a great example of courage. She is truly one of a kind and although she is only 16 years old she displayed tonight her commitment to the Lord and her willingness to be obedient and to stand up for what she knows to be right!
She knew what was wrong and right and I was so thankful that she listened to the spirt. As a mother your only hope is that your child will listen to the spirit warn her and then feel comfortable enough to call and ask for help when they need it. Tonight I was also so thankful I listened to the spirit prompt me to remind her just as she walked out the door to call me and I would come get her no matter what!
As we were talking she told us that she even asked her friends if they really felt good about this place... to which her friend said, "Yes, its not that bad." This reminded me how Satan is masking evil and making it look good and so enticing to our youth. It made me think how its like a wolf in sheep's clothing. As we spoke with our daughter on the way home she expressed her concern for so many friends at school and how so many kids think its okay to use these new designer drugs that are sold at local gas stations. My husband works around this in law enforcement and he explained a great deal to both of us. My daughter than explained to both of us why she liked to stay home a lot of the time, she said she would rather stay home and be safe than be put in situations like this again.
Today I am so grateful to our Father in Heaven who hears and answers prayers, who protects our children, and allows the Holy Ghost to guide and direct them when they need it most. I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that was given to each of our children when they were baptized.
I know that Shaniah will never forget this experience. I hope this will always be a reminder for her of the importance of making right choices and having the courage to stand up for what is right even it that means you have to stand alone! I love her so much and am so grateful for this opportunity she had to learn and grow from today!
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