“MYAH!” I (Jen) screamed as our sweet-but-incredibly-daring 2-year-old stepped off the sidewalk, about to place her foot on the street. I wouldn’t have shouted quite so loudly had I known that the speeding car I heard from behind me had actually not turned onto our street. The coast was clear and she was safe, but I had to be sure. Admittedly, I sometimes wish my personality did not have such a strong cautious streak. I strive not to be an “overly” protective parent. I don’t want to shield my children from what they need to learn. On the other hand, I do not want to carelessly place them in danger, ill-equipped for what may lie ahead.
In our community group this week, I shared something of my fears for my children with this transition we are encountering as a family. It’s not just a physical protectiveness for their safety that wells up in me and too often turns to worry. But rather, a deep-seated desire for their overall well-being. After I voiced this as a prayer concern, my wise brother Trent said that perhaps the sense of protection and care I feel toward my children is evidence of how the Lord cares for His children. God has put that in us as a reflection of the deep concern He has for us. Trent said it better than that, but it really struck me. Mainly, I realized in that moment that I had “forgotten” how much God cares for me. And that any worry or fear I might have is erased in the knowledge and understanding of His love for His children. Please feel free to remind me of that in the coming weeks. I may have a tendency to forget…God loves us. He desires what is best. He is perfectly capable of watching over us—and our children. So, this week I pray that we—and you—take daring steps to follow freely the Father who loves us so deeply.
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