Mall Alarms and Listening to my son {Day 29}

My mom and I searched the store directory at the new-to-us mall. “Ahh, there it is. We need to go up the escalator.”  I turn my attention to my son whose voice has been muffled due to my focus on the map.

“Mama what is that man saying? Why are the lights flashing?”

I absorb his words, at first not understanding what he is referring to. Then I realize there is a recorded voice over the loud-speaker. One I had not noticed. We can’t make out the details in the large open area of the mall. And then I follow Sam’s gaze to alarm lights that are indeed flashing.

Everyone is going about their normal pace, oblivious as I was to the authoritative voice.

In my adult wisdom I surmise there is no emergency and tell Sam it is safe as we make our way to the escalator. Once we get inside the store you can hear the instructions more clearly, “A fire alarm has been detected. Please move to the nearest exit.” Repeating over and over.

I can see my son’s worry rising on this face. “Mama, we need to listen. We need to leave.”

I can see the store clerks paying attention, as if they are waiting for a code they have been trained to hear. One that says this is real, you need to leave. But for now they stay put, assisting customers.

I look back to his yearning face. In a flash, I know we need to leave. Whether or not the alarm is real. We need to leave so that my son knows his voice matters. So he will know to listen to warning signs, not only in the physical world, but also the ones of his soul. So that he will do what his heart is telling him even if those around him are staying put.

We put down our potential purchase and leave the store. As we make our way to the outside doors, security begins to come around to close store doors and escort people out. Now a real, live voice comes over. We crowd on to the sidewalk as a movie theater full evacuates. Employees in matching uniforms fill the small space beside us. Turns out there was a kitchen fire in one of the restaurants. Contained.

I look at the six-year-old. His face is no longer worried. He looks relieved. And proud. I tell my son I am proud of him. For listening. For responding. For leading his mom and grandma to safety.

I wonder what other bells and whistles and warning signs I’ve become accustomed to. The ones that are saying be careful, but to my ears and self-appointed wisdom, I allow them to blend in as background noise.

Ones that I take as suggestions. Not realizing my safety is at stake.

Ones that my ‘knower’ knows might be trouble. But I look around and see that others don’t seem alarmed, so I will blend in.

Ones that whisper in the form of a sweet boys voice. Drowned out in the noise of my life. But not today.

Search my heart O Lord.

I’m participating with The Nester in 31 Days of Noticing the Moment. This is Day 29. And yes October is now over, but I think I’ll finish out!

You can find all 31 Dayers here. There are so many wonderful topics.

If you miss any days in the series, you can find introductory and each days post here.

Linking today with Emily at Imperfect Prose and Jennifer Dukes Lee at Tell His Story.

{top image credit}