Payette Woman Pedals for Peace After Driving Hours to Live for 175

They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words. The characters in the photo don’t move, the clouds aren’t changing and the faces sit motionless. That being said, we all see that photograph in a different light. A meaning.

Leaning up against a tree next to 15 bicycles that hundreds of people will ride over seven days stands a woman. You see someone leaning next to a tree. I see someone mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Today, that woman drove from Payette to Boise to cycle for a fews minutes on one of our bicycles. We took photos afterwards and I saw the pain in her eyes. Unfortunately, she rode for herself. This amazing mom was a victim of abuse from the closest people in her life - family. The community she resides in has turned a blind eye and is more concerned with perception than reality.

My dad always use to say, “Trust is earned, not given.”

What do you do when it’s your family that betrays that bond? This family doesn’t do sleep-overs, holidays or birthdays. This mom is willing and has lost her job because of anxiety that her kids were in danger. It’s a scary place that you never want to be and yet she finds herself pedalling for inner peace. I don’t know if she’ll find it. I don’t know if it’s possible to ever trust again, and can you blame her?

My son is 15 months old and tonight I will hold him inches closer and stare a few minutes longer. To the Payette family I will say an extra prayer.

Oh, remember that painting we talked about. Think about that the next time you see someone out by themselves. It never hurts to smile and say "hi."