God has blessed our home with two beautiful babies. Gamaliel (three years old) and Natalie (two years old) are the joy of our home. Sometimes they are with us; other times they are with the person who takes care of them.
There are times when the human eye doesn't see them and they are "alone" with God's angels who, of course, are their best companions. The angels' guarding care over Jesus' little lambs seems limitless. Children are constantly active and often have accidents. Many times I think, "Where would children—and all human beings—be without these heavenly agents?" Only in heaven will we understand the great work they do for us. In many instances, I have seen God's hand through these invisible servants.
When Gamaliel was 18 months old, a very responsible teenage girl cared for him while I worked around the house. Often we took her out with us to watch him. One day we visited our pastor friend in his home. When his wife realized she didn't have enough cheese for breakfast, she asked my helper to run to the nearby store and buy some for her. The girl went out of the house, unlocked the padlocked gate to the street, and walked toward the store. She did not notice that Gamaliel was standing nearby as she went out without closing the gate.
Spying the open gate, Gamaliel ran as fast as his little legs could carryhim toward the avenue where cars usually sped by. Inside the house, I somehow sensed danger. Looking out the window, I took it all in and dashed out after him. By then, Gamaliel had already crossed the street. Catching him at last, I realized he had not been hurt. Strangely, the street was empty. I am sure the angels of God held back traffic to save my son.
Tired Mommy
When Natalie was just four months old, she awoke frequently to eat or to have her diaper changed. With two little ones, I was frequently awakened at night, and I was exhausted. One morning I lay down with Natalie, thinking that I would continue with my housework once she had fallen asleep. I put my arm under her head and sang to lull her to sleep. It soothed me, too, and soon I fell into a deep sleep. Suddenly I awoke to Natalie's wails, but she wasn't with me. I jumped up and found her lying on the floor.
Fearing the worst, I wondered, "What have I done to her?"
Apparently she had crawled off the bed and landed on her head! I carefully picked her up, checking for cuts or bruises, but there was nothing—not even a scratch. It seemed as though she had rolled off the bed with a hand cradling her head and lowering her to the floor. I don't believe she could do that by herself. I am sure that God's angels watched over her and cared for her while I slept.
Restless PK
Some church members say that "pastors' kids are the most restless." Well, our son was no exception. Gamaliel was three years old when we recently attended a pastoral family meeting outside our district. When the service finished, we went to the central church where we were to greet some people in the church atrium. Meanwhile, Gamaliel went for a walk with his friends. Sensing something amiss, I looked around and spotted him climbing a six-foot wall. I ran to try to prevent him from falling, but I was too late. He fell and landed on his face. I imagined that he had broken everything, yet when I picked him up, there was only a small cut on his lip.
He cried. "Mama, if Jesus was with me, why did I fall?"
"Baby," I responded, "Jesus was with you, but you disobeyed Mommy and Daddy." Later I told him about the angels that take care of him. "Your angels work for you," I said, "but sometimes you make them work overtime."
Our children are even more precious to the Savior than they are to us. That is why He said that we should not cause them to fall, as their angels always see the face of the Father, who is in heaven (Matt. 18:10).
As Christian mothers and fathers, we should not doubt that the angels of God will work for our children if we daily entrust them to God. "Come in humility, with a heart full of tenderness, and with a sense of the temptations and dangers before yourselves and your children; by faith bind them upon the altar, entreating for them the care of the Lord. Ministering angels will guard children who are thus dedicated to God" (Child Guidance, p. 519).