God's Grace

We have had so many close calls safety-wise with our kids. I expect most parents of toddlers would say the same thing. Usually I don't tell anyone because I feel guilty that I wasn't paying more attention. But I was just thinking: God should get some glory out of my failings. After all, He's the one who puts the bubble of protection around us, even when I make mistakes as a mom. In the last two weeks, I've had three close calls in which I see God's merciful hand very clearly.


1. On August 1, I was at a birthday party for one of Katie's friends. John wasn't there yet so I had Joshua in the Baby Bjorn on my front while I chased Katie. She ran up a really steep hill, and when I chased after her, I fell backwards, twisting my foot so badly I ended up in the ER. Yet I have many things I'm thankful for:

- I fell backwards, not forwards, so I didn't land on Joshua. Since his little arms and legs were sticking out of the baby carrier, I could have easily broken one of his limbs if I had fallen on him.

- Even though John wasn't there, I was surrounded by several of my closest friends who helped care for my kids and for me until John could get there.

- I was already planning to move in with my in-laws that week because John was going on a work trip and I needed help with the kids and dog. I already had built-in help!

- My foot wasn't broken, though it was sprained. Here's what it looked like a week and a half after the incident:


2. A few days ago, Katie decided (against my warning from a few feet away) to venture down our 13-stair staircase, and fell on the first step, tumbling from the top. God's grace to both of us is that she only went down about five steps before she "happened" to come to a complete stop. By the time I got to her, we were both crying but she was only scared, not hurt.


3. This evening I was listening to Katie talk to Joshua in the next room while I prepared dinner. When I walked in there to check on them, I found Katie poking Joshua in the face with a pair of SCISSORS!!!!!!!!! God's grace was shown to us in that the scissors were closed and that I got to them before anyone was hurt.



Oh Lord, I don't know what I'd do without you! It's only the grace of God that protects all of us on a daily basis.