A few weeks ago our family attended a birthday party for one of the children in our church. It was a great party complete with a jumper, good food and plenty of Coca-Cola. Any time we have the opportunity to attend an event like this I get very nervous. I do, of course, threaten the kids before we go into the house but it never really seems to make much of a difference. I know that once they get inside with the other children and other parents that they know, in spite of my threats, that I will not actually do anything to them in front of so many witnesses. I just have to hope for the best and pray that we do not lose any friends or church members because of spilled drinks, stolen toys, or bullying by the pastors kids.
At this particular party there were a number of children that we did not know. My kids are pretty good about fitting in but never afraid to tell the other kids what they are thinking. About halfway through the party there was apparently an altercation in the jumpy house. Someone got knocked down, or came in with their shoes or stayed longer than their allotted ten minutes. The facts are a little unclear. What is clear is that my four year old Everett, and his friend Saige, found themselves on the wrong side of an angry mob of pre-preschoolers. I know this because his teen aged sister watched the events unfold. Not sure why she didn’t do anything other than just watch, but I can only work with one child at a time.
Everett may be small, but he has no problem speaking his mind. He gets particularly bold when he feels like his older brother will back up whatever he says. This was one of those days. As the story was told to me Everett did not back down from this mob but issued a stern warning.
“You may think that I am here alone, but I am not,” he said. “My brother is here and will get you if you don’t leave me alone!” He then looked at his friend and said: “Stick your tongue out at them Saige and let’s go!”
While their are problems with the logic of this particular four year old and probably even a few things that I need to help him work through, I can’t think of this story without making the obvious application to our lives.
I think that often times those that are Christians forget all that that relationship means. Among other things, it means that we are not alone. We may feel alone, but if we are the children of God we can have confidence in all that we do. We can have this confidence because even when our circumstance is overwhelming and it seems like life itself is against us we hang on to the truth of scripture:
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
Just as a little boy can find courage knowing that his big brother is right around the corner, we can have great courage knowing that the God who created the world cares for us.
Dream big dreams and attempt great things with the confidence that you are never alone.