familiesforhim.com

Jacob Take the Wheel

By  Jackie J. Copper

A few years ago Carrie Underwood had a hit with the song “Jesus Take the Wheel.” The lyrics concerned people who were at a crossroads in their lives and just felt out of control. They surrendered to a higher power and found a sense of peace.

Recently I heard a story that I call “Jacob Take the Wheel” and it too describes the power of God in our lives. The cast of characters in this event are a nine year old boy named Jacob and his mother named Anna. One day they were driving down Interstate 75 in the family truck from Macon to Perry. Jacob was in the front seat since they were in a truck and he was safely seat belted into the cab. His mother was driving and all seemed fine.

Out of the blue his mother had a seizure. Her body went rigid with her hands on the wheel and her foot on the gas pedal. She was completely out of it, something Jacob realized right away. He grabbed the wheel with his left hand and with his right hand picked up his mother’s cell phone.

He punched in “911” and when he got an answer he began to tell them what was happening. The operator tried to get a fix on where Jacob was so she asked him if he could see any mile markers. He told her what he saw. He also said he saw a highway patrolman on the side of the road and the operator told him to blow the horn, which he did. Either the highway patrolman was busy or didn’t take this as a sound of distress.

Now remember the whole time this is going on he has the cell phone in one hand and is steering with the other. His mother is unresponsive to his calls for her to wake up so he is virtually alone in the cab of this truck.  Alone, but not really alone.

Jacob steered the truck for fifteen miles down the interstate. He stayed on the phone with the 911 operator and did everything she suggested. After fifteen miles his mother stirred, woke up and stopped the truck. She had no recollection of anything that had gone on. She didn’t know that Jacob had taken the wheel until she was told.

Later people asked Jacob how he had known what to do in steering the truck. His answer was he steered it just like he did his go cart. He didn’t think he had done anything all that special. Jacob took the wheel and he did what he had to do. He was a hero in everyone’s mind as well he should have been.

In this case Anna did not scream out for Jacob to take the wheel. She wasn’t even aware when he did. But God knew and He was in that truck with Jacob as they sped down Interstate 75.

Maybe somehow Carrie Underwood will read this story, and maybe she will write a song about this heroic nine year old boy. I doubt she would title it “Jacob Take the Wheel” since that phrase has already been used. Still whatever she calls it, it will have to be a song that celebrates the glory of a son’s love for his mother and his desire to keep the truck heading in the right direction until she came back to him.

Jackie K Copper is an author, columnist and book and movie critic in central Georgia.  He writes for The Huffington Post.  www.jackiekcopper.com

Jacob is the son of my first cousin, Annalee.  The Lord is so good to protect His children.  Our family is  thankful that this situation did not end in tragedy.  Jacob was awarded the Georgia Young Heroes Award by the Governor of Georgia.  The following link shows the news coverage for this award:   http://budurl.com/jf46