About a month ago our next door neighbors had us over for dinner along with two other neighbor couples so that they could all meet my folks who were visiting from out of town. Mom and dad and I headed over there with Ben and Ellie. Jeff was going to meet us there when he got home from work. As always with these neighborly grandmas and grandpas, everybody was so thrilled to see our little youngsters. The neighbors had a table and chairs set up for the adults and Benjamin got his own special tray filled with all kinds of goodies that he doesn't usually get to have at home. There was a little play area set up for Ben too just about 6 feet away from the screen tent where the adults were sitting. Introductions were made as Benjamin passed out smiles and high fives.
After a few minutes at the dinner party, Benjamin began to play in his little area and I had a feeling that I should go check out what was over there just be sure it was safe. A circular tub of water was filled with balls and all kinds of other gadgets and toys. He was using paint brushes to "paint" water on everything. There were ladles and small buckets. Benjamin was thrilled to have a fun space to play in and he was running back and forth to visit with the "grandmas" and "grandpas", nibble on his special tray of food, and play with the water and toys. Everything seemed pretty harmless...except for the big bucket of water. The top of the tub came just above his waist, was approximately 2-3 feet in diameter and was about half filled with water. As I looked at the tub the thought crossed my mind that if Ben leaned over it to reach the toys inside he might flip over the edge and drown. I pictured him going head first into the water....unable to turn himself enough to stand up...all of the adults, sitting in a circle just a few feet away...completely unaware he was in trouble as they carried on conversations about the weather. That's what I saw when I looked at that bucket. Maybe this whole "imagined" scenario seems a little morbid to you or overly cautious, but that is what came to my mind. As soon as I saw this picture in my mind I turned to my mom who was sitting next to me and said, "Will you help me keep on eye on Benjamin with that tub? I'm worried he might tip in and not be able to stand up." Within minutes, literally, I watched as the scene that had just played in my head played out in real life. Ben was reaching for a toy on the opposite side of the tub, leaned over too far, lost his footing and plunged head first into the bin of water. I don't know who saw Benjamin fall in besides me and mom, but I remember calling out for him as I jumped from my seat. His feet were hooked on the edge of the bucket and he couldn't get out of the water. The neighbor nearest Ben snatched him up out of the water. He coughed and sputtered as he worked to get the water out of his body. He looked scared. That made two of us. I grabbed him and gave him a big, big hug feeling so thankful that he was safe.
So what was it? What was it that made me think my son might get into trouble? My gut? Common sense? Intuition? Coincidence? Call it what you will, but I'm calling it the voice of God. There is not a doubt in my mind that God gave me that thought and that He caused me to visualize Benjamin drowning silently in that small tub of water. It was the voice of God that spoke to me that night. His voice that put me on alert. His voice that rescued my son.
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