Protect

Protect

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

“TELL MOM TO STOP!” I shouted to my younger brothers as all three of us scrambled through the front door, racing along the porch stretching the full length of our farmhouse. Waving our arms frantically, the fire alarm screeching in the background, we watched Mom wave back cheerfully as she drove away in our family’s beige Pontiac Caprice.

With no such thing as a cell phone and about thirty minutes before Mom would return, I went back into the house on shaky legs, alarm still shrieking, to call our neighbor Gwynn. Gwynn’s girls had been our babysitters for years, and Mom had already connected with Gwynn, letting her know we were staying home alone for the first time in case we needed help.

Five minutes later, Gwynn’s car pulled into our farm driveway, and she got out, marching with calm determination toward the three of us huddled on the porch, clutching her giant fire extinguisher. Her presence brought an immediate peace, a sense of protection as she headed into the house to check things out. Returning three minutes later, she declared it all clear, guessing correctly that Mom’s car had set off the fire alarm as she left the garage, and that she’d be staying with us until Mom came home.

We’ve laughed over that memory so many times. We give Mom a hard time for misinterpreting our frantic waving as an enthusiastic, first-time-by-ourselves goodbye, and recount Gwynn’s march as she came to our rescue. But what I remember most is how I felt when Gwynn arrived and then stayed, setting aside whatever it was she had been doing. I’m certain she could see that our confidence had been shaken, and what had initially seemed like a grand adventure in staying home alone was now, in this moment, terrifying. And so she stayed, protecting us from the fear of being home alone.

We are the hands and feet of Jesus, and he deploys us on rescue missions. Sometimes we protect physically, but more frequently we protect emotionally, inviting others to belong, to draw comfort and peace in a space carved out just for them without fear or rejection or diminishing their concerns with clichés or pat answers.

Heavenly Father, may we be women who protect those around us physically and emotionally. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Ask God who around you needs protecting today. Reach out.