I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me. (Psalm 17:6-9 NLT).

I can vividly remember conversations with my boys at various times in their lives when it was very important for them to know that I would always be there for them. It has been my practice to both tell them and show them in as many ways as possible that I will guard them and keep them safe. Of course, as they got older they didn't want to hear it as much, but they still wanted to see it.

I remember one such time when Kyle was in first grade. It was my practice to pick him up from school as often as possible. I was waiting for him to come out of his classroom and watching the door of his classroom which opened to the outside of the building and I spotted him almost immediately. I watched as he made his way through the crowd of other children, most older and bigger, and before he got more than a few steps he was knocked down by some larger children not watching where they were going. It was not an attack or vicious in any way, but he was still down. I jumped from the car and ran to him scooping him up in my arms. He said, “Put me down Dad. The other kids are lookin’!” Later in the car I asked if he was OK and he told me that he was while we both had a good laugh at how I looked running across the front of the school to get him! He did know that I would do anything in my power to keep him safe.