It was a few days after Christmas. The young family was busy packing for the three hour trip home after a holiday week with Grandma & Grandpa on the farm. Every nook and cranny of their vehicle was filled with too many presents, necessities for the 4 month old and a boy, somewhere between 3 1/2 and 4 years old, the father and mother, and the quite large family dog.
As goodbye hugs and kisses were being exchanged, the boy suddenly darted and called out, "Just one, two, free minutes more!" He sprinted to his adventure place where Grandpa had lovingly arranged hay bales for easy climbing access to the child's imagination. "No, son, no! We've got to get going - NOW!" said the father in quite an authoritative tone. As expected, there was no response. The father deliberately marched to the hallowed place just as the boy had reached the summit. "Now, you be careful and we really do have to go. We'll come back again real soon. I promise!" and with that plea, the boy smiled and called out, "Okay, Daddy. I'm coming!"
And this is what happened next.
I'm quite sure each must have felt just a tinge of fear - the boy before he actually took flight, the father as he realized the responsibility of catching his son, and the photographer as he or she gasped at the sight. Actually, it was the boy's Grandma who was at the right place and time to snap this "Kodak Moment." And I did feel my heart skip a beat until our grandson, Connor, fell into his daddy's arms. And what did Connor say with a big smile? "Daddy, let's do that again!"
When I look at this, I see a picture of overwhelming, no-explanation needed trust.
Oh, that we all could trust more and fear less!
~ Written by Bethlehem member, Connie Larson
