Oh Boy...

We are in a season of birthdays here, with two boys' birthdays in a week and another coming three weeks after.  (And no, we didn't plan it that way!)  It's a fun time, though often hard on the diet (more cake and celebrating than we're used to).  This year we decided it was a good time to buy a group gift, for all five kids, a trampoline!  Yesterday afternoon was spent putting it together (after worship and a nice Sunday feast), which was just enough inspiration to get the four out of five kids who were sick off of the couch.

We each had a short turn jumping on it, and finished the construction phase just in time for those of us who were able to get to evening worship (a bit late).  So now it begins - we have a trampoline in the back yard.  It's a bit scary to me, although I personally have always wanted a trampoline.  I do find myself wondering who will break a bone first.

We made rules, we bought the giant net enclosure, we'll keep a close eye on them.  We'll do what we can to keep them safe, but really it is God who watches them and designs their every moment.  He has watched them when we removed the stair gate.  He has watched them when we let them play in the backyard while we watched from the window.  He has watched them when we removed the training wheels, and bought skateboards and pocket knives.  He has even watched them break bones: an arm, a toe, a collarbone.  Twice an eyebrow has been glued back together.  Once a scary 911 call followed by an ambulance ride.

God watches over our children, indeed.  But He not only watches, He cares for them, loving them even more than Edwin and I can imagine.  He teaches us to trust Him, little by little as our children grow and learn to trust Him, too.  He is mighty to save.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."  My times are in your hands... (Psalm 31:14-15)