I have just returned home from a wonderful eight-day vacation with my family in the Carolina Mountains. Thirteen of us in a beautiful cabin. It was very loud at times and I joked that our eating time was like kitchen aerobics, very loud and with much movement. My grandchildren range in age from twelve years all the way down to twenty-one months of age. The little guy Luke is a busy little boy, all over the place at a fast pace. If you blink you will miss something he is up to. He is smart and knows how to go outside on his own, climb on anything, escape from his bed and climb up and down the stairs.

It was on one of these stair occasions that he was going down and suddenly started to fall, his daddy was above him and reached down and grabbed him in the nick of time, pulling him up and close, reassuring him that it was all okay, he was there and had him. It warmed my heart to see it and it warms my heart once again to tell it. Another time they were on the deck and I saw my son take off at a run to grab Luke before he went down the two flights of stairs to the gravel below, again saving him from getting hurt. That is what we expect from our parents, that they are there for us watching out for us.

On another occasion, while we were on a hike we went off the path down to the water which had a few whitecaps and was fast moving, the kids decided to climb on the large rocks, but in order to do that they had to sit on a log and shimmy across, which was the best and easiest way across unless you are afraid. My oldest granddaughter who was afraid to cross the log decided to try to step across two rocks with water going between; she is very tall for her age and has really long legs, so she thought she could do it, and she was right, she got across, but she lost her flip-flop in the process, a very expensive flip-flop. She was visibly upset by the attempt and the loss of her shoe.

We were two miles in on a very rocky, root filled, water-laden path in spots, what was she going to do? My daughter seeing her upset and shaking went to get her. She calmed her a little and told her to meet her on the log and she promised to get her back across. Through tears and shaking she made it. My daughter then proceeded to give my granddaughter her tennis shoes, although a little tight they went on and she could now walk back, however, my daughter had to do the walking without shoes in her socks; rocks, roots, water and all. That is what parenting looks like. Being there for your kids at all times.

These are just a few examples of how my children helped their children in their time of need. They were there jumping into action with no thought. However, they cannot always be there to jump in. There have been times and will be times when they just cannot physically be present to help or grab or talk through. They are limited, but God is not, he is with us every second of every day of our lives. He never sleeps, he never misses anything.

I wonder how many times a day I am saved from something. There have been times when a car has stopped suddenly in front of me and I have avoided hitting them because of my breaks; but was it my breaks only? I don’t think so, it was my heavenly Father watching out for me, there in a blink of an eye, saying not today, I have you! I attributed my good fortune to breaks, but it really wasn’t that at all. Everyone who drives should have brakes, or at least I hope they do, and not everyone gets saved, not even me at times. I have been rear-ended before, I have run into someone who stopped in front of me suddenly, and the only reason I was not hurt was God my Father said not today.

He does not always stop circumstances or illness in our lives, but sometimes he does. Even when he allows the wreck, or an illness, the injury; we are still in his care, under his watchful gaze and he only allows that which he feels we need, or maybe the other person needs. God is with us always. There is never a time when his head is turned and he is not there, he does not see, nothing surprises the Lord. If it has touched our lives he allowed it, but even in the touching, he is with us to help us through, to show us his grace and mercy through the trial we are going through.

The next time you need a little reminding about God’s love and care for you read these scriptures.

Psalm 121:3 “He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.”

Matthew 6:32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

Matthew 10:30-31 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear, you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

Luke 15:20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

Hebrews 1:14 “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

We are loved, we are looked after, we are never alone. When we call he hears us and answers.

1 Peter 3:12 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:15 “And is we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the request that we have asked of him.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Psalm 34:17 “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

If you are his, he is watching, waiting and he will help you and answer your prayer in your time of need.