Boys, Buggies, and Matchbox Cars

“Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who is in heaven.”  Matthew 18:10

This verse has become one of my favorites over the past few months.  I don’t know, but maybe, it is because I have the great honor of being the mommy of this little guy…

Do you see that face?  That sums him up.  He is a two-year-old BOY!  He is very cautious, yet very strong willed.  So, usually, he is not up for trying many things that he sees as potentially dangerous.  However, sometimes his determination takes over …like when he wants to pay for a new Hot Wheels so that he will be able to open it.  So, last week he reached really hard to put his car on the conveyer belt, flipping head first out of a shopping cart, during the busiest shopping season of the year!  Yes, he was screaming on the floor with what felt like a million people all around us.  Sweet employees finished putting my merchandise on the conveyer belt and proceeded to do an incident report.  All the while, Ella Beth sat in the cart not making a sound.  We finally got to the car and I listened to Ellis cry the entire way home, as did I.  I cried and cried feeling terrible that I had let my baby hurt.  I had failed to protect him.  This happened on day four of Troy being out of town.  He was in meetings, so I knew I could not just call him to help me feel better.  About half way home, as the Lord always provides for me, Troy called.  I told him what happened.  He quickly rebuked the way I was feeling about myself, telling me that Ellis was a boy and it was good for him to fall out of the buggy.  He insisted that Ellis would be more careful the next time.  (I am so grateful for a husband that encourages me!)  We got home, I loved on that baby, and he was back to himself!  He had a small mark on his head, but acted completely normal!

 It took my pride being hurt to remind me that no matter how hard I try; I am not capable of always protecting my children.  But, I have a gracious Father who stands in the gap for me.  And, my babies’ angels ALWAYS see the face of my Father. The Creator of heaven and earth loves my children, and yours, so much that He created angels that watch over them and they always have access to Him. What a sweet, sweet blessing!   My ultimate responsibility, as their mommy, is to show them that same face, the face of their heavenly Father!  

Praising our Protector,

Brittany

The Great Rescue

September 10, 2012 started like most any day at our house.  I got up and got Ellis, Ella Beth, and myself ready for the day.  This specific day would have us preparing for Ella Beth’s four-month check up.  My mother, also known as G, was keeping Ellis for me while I took EB to the doctor.  Little did we know, we would not make that appointment for almost two more weeks…

Ella Beth and I started on our way toward Dothan, like we do several days every week.  We were traveling south on Hwy 231 and a truck did not stop at a stop sign that intersects the highway.  I saw the truck moving very quickly toward me and I felt impact almost instantly. My airbag deployed and all I knew was that I had been hit on the other side of my vehicle. The side closer to where EB was sitting.  It only took a moment for my vehicle to stop moving and the airbag to come down from my face. I immediately turned around and there sat my baby girl in the car seat as perfectly positioned as it was when we left home.  All I could do was say, “thank you, thank you, thank you” in a constant prayer of thanksgiving.  I got out of my vehicle and had two men running toward me.  They were the men in the other vehicle involved and were not injured.  Praise the Lord!  In the next moments, I was overwhelmed by the kindness shown to me by witnesses, police officers, and complete strangers that stopped what they were doing to direct traffic around EB and me.  Troy was working in Panama City this particular morning and had to accept this phone call from two hours away.  He guided me in how to handle the situation and stayed calm and confident for me.  My sweet mother got Ellis in the car and started on her way to pick us up.  Troy got home as quickly as he could and we got back to our normal routine.  I say “normal” routine, but the days to come left me in an overwhelming emotional mess.  In the past few years, I have wept with family and friends facing unbelievably hard situations reminding me that we do indeed live in a fallen world.  I put Ella Beth to bed that night and cried and cried.  I would have flashbacks of the airbag coming out of my face and seeing EB completely unharmed.  I was so grateful to a mighty and merciful God.  He had “rescued” us. 

A couple of weeks later, I was worshipping my merciful God, so thankful that he did not choose to take my baby home that day.  Then, God gently nudged me… “that is not what I chose for my own son.”   That thought continues to overwhelm my soul. 

You see, if God would have chosen to take Ella Beth or me home that day, we had already been rescued.  God did orchestrate all the events of September 10^th and blessed us in every second of it, but he rescued us, all of us who believe, when he chose to sacrifice his own son as a payment for our sin.  Jesus rescued me, long before I was ever in an accident!  Our salvation is a gift, given by His mercy. It is easy for us, or for me at least, to forget how much it cost. It cost a lot. It cost the life of His son.  I was reminded of the cost of my own salvation, in an automobile accident, an accident that occurred on E King St. 

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.”  Psalm 34:7

Our King is Worthy of All Praise,

Brittany