God, our Protector
Psalm 4: 1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; Be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
Yesterday afternoon I experienced the most horrible moments I can remember in my entire life. And God heard our cries. Andi and I had the dogs and the babies at Sherie's house for some outdoor fun. Sophie has probably played outside Sherie's back yard 30 times, never going more than 20 feet from the back door. She just plays in the dirt, carries rocks and messes around.
We left Sophie playing while we went in for a minute. All of us were in the room right where the patio door is - and where Sophie comes in and out. We heard a strange sound, like a bird crying. Twice. Andi was feeding Keegan and Sherie went out front to investigate the sound.
I saw Andi's dog trot by the window. I asked, "What does Issac have in his mouth?" As Sherie came back into the room, I'm looking out the window and she said she thought it was a guinea. And it was. Still alive and yelling for help -- in bird language.
Sherie and I go out to try and rescue the bird and it involves a long chase of the dog. Andi comes out and is yelling at the dog (which did absolutely no good) while we are chasing the dumb thing. I was finally able to throw a basketball and hit the dog from about 30 feet away, causing him to drop the bird, which was still alive - but just barely.
Sherie picks up the bird - something she had never done before - and starts off, alone, for her father-in-law's house to take the bird back to his barn. Also, something she had never done before. In the past, she has always just let the birds fend for themselves. Her father in law lives about 150 yards away and she was quickly out of our sight.
I go in to get my purse because I was leaving and when I came back out, Andi asked if I had Sophie. I did not and she was not inside with me. I drop my purse and run with Andi to the top of the hill behind Sherie's house -- where the tractors are that Sophie loves to "ride" are, but also where the lake is.
We are both screaming as loud as we possibly can, but hear nothing in return but our own voices echoing back. Andi lays Keegan down and I scoop him up as she goes around one side of the lake and I quickly scan the shores and water of the other side.
Andi hears a loud splash toward the back of the lake and quickly jumps over a barbed wire fence, ripping her palm open as she does so. Luke hears all of the yelling and comes out of the house and I scream at him to check the front of the house for Sophie. He takes off running, while we are still checking the edge of the lake - screaming and praying.
After what seemed an eternity, praise God, Luke yells that Sherie has her and we see them walking toward us. Andi takes off running to her, while all I can do is collapse on the ground, crying and thanking God for keeping her safe.
Sophie had not gone with Sherie but BEFORE her. When Sherie put the guinea back in the barn, she noticed a strange vehicle in the drive - just sitting there with the doors open. She went over to see if they needed help and there was a lady sitting there in her car -- with Sophie. Who she had found, walking down the road, which is about a hundred yards from Sherie's house. She had already called the police and they were on their way to investigate what was going on.
As we all tried to calm down and hug Sosie, Sherie kept repeating, "It's OK, it's over, she fine." Truthfully, I think she was trying to convince herself as much as she was us.
As we sat around a fire last night, thinking and talking about how differently the day could have ended, we thanked God again for keeping her safe. For the dog grabbing the bird and injuring it. For Sherie taking the bird to the barn. For a wonderful woman finding Sophie, instead of someone who meant her harm. For Sherie, going to see why she was sitting in the driveway. And most of all -- for Sophie, who lived to play another day.
I think Andi may have a small scar from the barbed wire.......and she won't mind it a bit. It will be a visible reminder of our merciful God.
Andi was feeling like a very lousy mom for losing sight of Sos and nothing I could say was making her feel any better - then Billski reminded her about a famous couple, Mary & Joseph, who also managed to lose sight of a child -- but didn't even notice for 4 days. That made her feel better ;)
