A young boy in a bustling city in the United States was just starting school and initially his mother walked with him for the few hundred yards to get there. Then she employed a teenage girl to accompany him to make sure he arrived safely and she paid her a nickel a day. After the first year the boy rebelled and suggested that he could walk on his own but his mother was hesitant and initially refused.
He pleaded and promised to be careful not to talk to strangers and in crossing the roads, would not be diverted but would go straight to school and straight home afterwards. To clinch the deal he said that he would do all this for a nickel a week and his mother would save money. He finally got his way and each day walked the eight blocks and crossed the streets carefully, making sure he never talked with strangers nor be diverted in any way. It worked well and he was so pleased with himself.
Years later at a family party he was bragging about his independence at such a young age and spoke of having taken care of himself as a boy. His mother laughed and punctured the boasting by saying, “Did you really think you were alone? Every morning when you left for school, I left with you. I walked behind you all the way. When you got out of school in the afternoon, I was there. I always kept myself hidden, but I was there and I followed you all the way home. I just wanted to be there in case you needed me.”
What a wonderful expression of a mother’s love, allowing him independence but watching over him. The Lord Jesus is described as “a friend who sticks closer to us than a brother” Proverbs chapter 18 verse 24. He said to His followers, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5 and again “I am with you always” Matthew chapter 28 verse 20. We may never know until eternity how the Lord was by our side to protect, guide and guard us from dangers into which we may have inadvertently stumbled. We thank God for His wonderful protective care and as we make decisions on a daily basis let us ask for His guiding hand to do what is right and only those things which brings blessing to others.
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